Committee recommends solutions to private medical college problem

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The committee appointed by the Ministry of Health to clarify issues related to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine at Malabe has, among six vital conclusions, stated that admission of new batches of students in the future should be done strictly on the basis of UGC criteria and in accordance with the requirements of the Sri Lanka Medical Council.

The five-member Committee handed over its report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa last Thursday. The Committee comprised Secretary to the Health Ministry Dr.Ravindra Ruberu, Dr.H.R.U. Indrasiri, Prof Jayantha Jayawardena, Dr.Palitha Abeykoon and Mrs A.R.Ahamed.

In the case of students enrolled prior to private medical college being granted degree awarding status on August 30, 2011, the Committee has suggested three "possible options that could be offered" to its management, parents and students for consideration.

On the question of the private medical college obtaining Sri Lanka Medical Council recognition, the committee has recommended that it apply to the SLMC. "Whether this should be done before or after completion of the new hospital has to be resolved by SLMC. It is desirable to commence the process as soon as possible since the students have already been admitted after the gazette notification and it is necessary to monitor the academic and administrative conditions. Following the completion of the formal procedures, and as in other instances, the SLMC should decide whether the accreditation should be denied or conditional accreditation or full accreditation should be granted."

The committee said that the SAITM had to ensure that the new teaching hospital would be completed and fully operational at a date agreed by the management, UGC and the SLMC.

"While the work on the completion of the hospital is proceeding it is important for the SATIM engage the ministry of Health closely as the latter will need to play the role of facilitator by providing access for students to certain facilities required for community medicine (such as MOH Division), special campaigns and supra-special units such as cardiac and neurosurgery etc."

"The UGC and SLMC should advice the management of SAITM to ensure that only one batch each year is admitted for training as done in state medical faculties," the committee has recommended. "Such admissions for local students should be based on AL results of that year or the equivalent examination as being done for admissions to the State Medical College."

The committee commenting on the difficulties in establishing of new medical schools says that "many of the difficulties encountered by the students, MOH and the SLMC on account of this issue were due to decision making processes being done in isolation, with inadequate interactions, and often on verbal assurances. In certain instances it appears that the management of SAITM had misinterpreted the true situation regarding the status of the course and the recognition of the degree."

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