We have in our recommendations suggested the right way to approve the Minimum Standards. The SLMC draft should be given to the government and the government should send it back to the SLMC with its views after which there should be a discussion which shou
which would come from the legal Minimum Standards.
When asked how the proposed not-forprofit body for SAITM’s medical faculty would work, he in turn queried whether profit is the only motive of human kind. Citing examples such as Stanford and Rockefeller, he said that many have channelled their wealth to charity and built hospitals and much more. In profit-making bodies, there is distribution of dividends, but not in the not-for-profit organizations.
According to the Deputy Minister the vast majority of people who have no direct interest say the Presidential Committee Report is “progressive” and that the “government has gone 75% and the others just need to go 25%”.
He cites a recent speech by former American President Barack Obama to black graduands – even if you are 100% right, in a democracy you have to compromise.
“This is why we are stating as a legitimate government – this equitable com-
The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) is to take up the Harsha de Silva Committee Report at length at its monthly meeting next Friday (September 29).
While hailing the move to stop admissions of new medical students to SAITM, as “the SLMC’s position is that SAITM has failed to meet the standards stipulated by the SLMC”, it is learnt that the SLMC was of the view that the members who met the committee did not “formally” agree with the proposed re- structuring process on the grounds that it needed to be studied in-depth.
The SLMC has also been very specific on certain factors, sources told the Sunday Times. “Whatever re- structuring is done, the powers of the SLMC with regard to ensuring Minimum Standards for medical and dental education should not be diluted in any form,” the source said, adding that no other body, than the SLMC, should have the power to amend these Minimum Standards, ascertain compliance with such standards and recognize higher educational institutes which award medical and dental degrees.
Another source stressed that no amendments to laws or new laws should be brought in which would impact on the powers and functions of the SLMC, without getting total agreement from the SLMC. promise is being offered as a solution, so accept it and let’s work on it,” added Dr. de Silva.
[Please see the full Harsha de Silva Committee Report and the critical analysis of the report by the Federation of Faculty of Medicine Teachers’ Association of Sri Lanka (FFMTA) online]