Indian Medical Experts challenge SLMC

The Sri Lanka Medical Council has consented to extend further the registration of nonnational medical practitioners till March 31 next year.

The petitions of the aggrieved doctors were taken up before the Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Justices Priyasath Dep and Rohini Marasinghe.

Durdan’s Hospital Senior Resident Consultant Cardiac Surgeon Dr K. Kesava Dev and Consultant Cardiac Anaesthetist Dr Madhur Malik in their petition complained of the alleged curtailments and/or non-granting and/or imminent refusal by the SLMC of registration of the Petitioner Indian Medical Experts as well as Dr Ganesh K. Kamath.

The Petitioners cited the SLMC, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Ministry Secretary Dr Nihal Jayathilaka, Director General of Health Services Dr U.A. Mendis, Secretary of Private Hosptials and Nursing Homes Wijaya Ransi and the Attorney General as Respondents.

President’s Counsel Faisz Musthapha with Faisza Markar and Gowry Shangary Thavarasha appeared for the Petitioners of Durdan’s Hospital and Lanka Hospital.

D.S.Wijesinghe with J.C.Weliamuna and Kaushalya Molligoda appeared for Nawaloka Hospital PLC, Dr Hemant Digambar Waikan, Dr Landeep Krishan Dutta Sharma and Dr Padmanabh Gajanan Thakar.

President’s Counsel S.A. Parathalingam appeared for SLMC.

Additional Solicitor General Bimba Jayasinghe Tilakaratne appeared for the Attorney General.

The Petitioners sought an order from Court that the curtailment and/or abbreviation by the SLMC of the registration of the Petitioners and Dr Ganesh K. Kamath to a period of two and half months, constitutes a violation by the SLMC of their fundamental rights to equality and equal protection of the law as well as the freedom to engage in a lawful profession.

They asked Court to make an order to direct the SLMC to register them forthwith for the periods of one year each as recommended by the Health Ministry and the Director General of Health Services.

There are 22 foreign doctors presently working at Private Hospitals in Colombo.

They asked the Court to make an order to direct the SLMC to register them forthwith for the periods of one year each as recommended by the Health Ministry and the Director General of Health Services