Sri Lanka Medical Council

The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) is a statutory body established in 1998, replacing the former Ceylon Medical Council. It is tasked with the regulation of the medical profession, upholding medical ethnical practices, standards of education and the safety of medical patients in Sri Lanka.[1]

Purpose

The purpose of the SLMC is to "protect health care seekers by ensuring the maintenance of academic and professional standards, discipline and ethical practice by health professionals who are registered with it".[2]

History

The SLMC was established as a statutory body by the Medical (Amendment) Act No. 40 of 1998 replacing the Ceylon Medical Council which in turn had been established by the Medical Council Ordinance No. 24 of 1924.

On September 16, 2020, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, the Minister of Health, appointed a committee to look into the actions of the Sri Lankan Medical Association requests to look into the Sri Lankan Medical Association's former Acting Assistant Registrar of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), Dr. Chandana Atapattu, by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA). Dr. Atapattu caused controversy after he reportedly shared confidential documents related to the SLMC to foreign parties regarding the acceptance of foreign degrees in the SLMC. This comes after questions by Russia when the SLMC removed 3 Russian universities of their SLMC Approved List without prior discussion, which the SLMC stated that the move was in error.[3] On November 29, 2020, previous chairman Prof. Harendra De Silva and other colleagues were found to have violated many regulations and were subsequently dismissed from their respective roles. In replacement, University of Colombo professor and previous SLMA president Vajira Dissanayake was appointed.[4]

The action taken by the Minister of Health prompted opposition by AMS president, Dr. L. A. Ranasinghe. In a letter to Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Dr. Ranasignhe states that the 5 SLMC officials were removed prior to their end of their term of office, subsequently affecting the "stability, independence and reputation" of the SLMC.[1]

Functions

The SLMC's major functions include:

  • the registration of medical practitioners
  • the assessment and recognition of overseas qualifications of medical practitioners

Examinations
  • Examination for Registration to Practise Medicine (ERPM) - for citizens of Sri Lanka who obtained their medical qualification from medical schools overseas per of Act No.16 of 1965 and Section 29(I)(b)(ii)(cc) of the Medical Ordinance.[5]

The purpose of the ERPM examination is to assess whether a candidate can approach medical practice with the appropriate intellectual skills of enquiry, clinical reasoning, critical thinking and decision making; possessing sufficient knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences, and an understanding of the underlying principles of scientific method; and the ability to create a differential diagnosis and rationalize a treatment plan for common clinical situations prevalent in Sri Lanka.[6]

Council Members
  • President - Nominated by the Minister of Health
  • Eight members - one member each elected by the teachers of the Faculty of Medicine of each of the Universities established or deemed to be established by the Universities Act
  • One member - one member elected by the teachers of the Faculty of Dental Sciences of each of the Universities established or deemed to be established by the Universities Act
  • Eight members - elected by medical practitioners registered under section 29
  • One member - elected by persons entitled to practice medicine registered under section 41
  • One member - elected by dentists registered under section 43
  • Four members - nominated by the Minister of Health, of whom at least two members shall not be in the employment of the Government or in receipt of a pension from the Government
  • Director-General of Health Services
  • Director-General of Teaching Hospitals

A vice-president shall be elected from among the members of the Medical Council, by the Medical Council. Its current President is Dr Colvin Gunerathna.

Criticism

Independence

The Sri Lanka Medical Council has been accused of lacking independence in its operations and policy formulation as it is heavily influenced by the Health Minister and his personal staff.[7] However, the medical fraternity of the country could establish the independency after great struggle safeguarding the widely recognized reputation earned by the medical council rejecting political influences.

Protecting their own

The SLMC has been heavily criticized for focusing more on protecting the interests and privileges of doctors rather than protecting the interests of the general public as is the case with similar bodies such as the General Medical Council.[8]

Dominance of Doctors

The SLMC is dominated by medical doctors and other medical practitioners such as dentists and pharmacists are ignored.[9]

Past Presidents

See also

References
  1. "SLMC crisis: AMS writes to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa". The Island Online. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. Sri Lanka Medical Council: Past, Present and the Future
  3. "Committee appointed to probe conduct of SLMC". Colombo Gazette. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. "New president appointed to Sri Lanka Medical Council". Ada Derana. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. Examination for Registration to Practise Medicine
  6. ERPM Syllabus
  7. SAITM: beware of becoming a bite
  8. Doctors prove Medical Council should be scrapped
  9. Medical profession, no longer the dignified calling!
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