SAITM agrees in principle to broad-base ownership

“SAITM has agreed in principle to broad-base the ownership. As always, SAITM will extend its fullest support to the Government's efforts in maintaining quality and standards of medical education in Sri Lanka,” stated SAITM’s Registrar Husni Hussain when contacted by the Sunday Times get its view on the Harsha de Silva Committee Report.

She said that they welcome the initiative to establish legally- empowered standards since it would help to alleviate ad hoc decision-making when only guidelines are used. Prescribed Minimum to Standards should include current world trends and address the observations of all medical faculties. They should be applicable to both state and non- state faculties sans discrimination. Accreditation and quality assurance will ensure that standards in medical education are maintained. We leave it to the Government to formulate a suitable mechanism,”

With regard to the action recommended by the committee to trigger the proposed solution and to negotiate to end the boycott of medical students of state universities, Ms. Hussain states that the discipline of the students is a matter for the Deans of the respective faculties.

The Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education as the specified Authority has already informed SAITM in writing to temporarily suspend student admission to the MBBS Programme, she says, adding that SAITM will abide by the laws of the country and extend its fullest cooperation to the Government to formalize a just and expeditious solution for its undergraduates and MBBS Graduates, subject to court proceedings.