A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Sunday, July 30, 2017
A Formula To End The SAITM Imbroglio
The SAITM imbroglio
appears to be dragging on without end. It is high time that the
Government in power intervened resolutely as of late, to establish the
credibility of Yahapalanaya and
put an end to this colossal waste of the country’s assets, both
material and intellectual, without habitually waiting Micawber-like, for
something to turn up some day.
I think sticking to the following formula should see an end to this fiasco.
1. The
Medical Council plays a major role in the dispute. It is unfortunate
that it happened to be dysfunctional at the spur of the moment due to
the retirement of its Chairman. The first problem is to appoint a new
Chairman. That is the privilege of the Minster of Health. However the GMOA does not appear to have faith in the person likely to be appointed. The GMOA does not have a decision-making role here. But
as a prominent functionary in the medical field, it has a moral right
to be concerned with the suitability of the Chairman of the MC.
Obviously a
person who has had dealings with the SAITM and benefitted from it in
the past would not fit that role in the interests of natural justice.
The Minister should play a conciliatory role here if he has the
interests of the service in mind. That role is best discharged by acting
on a recommendation of the MC on the choice of a Chairman for it.
2. Half
the problem will be over with the appointment of a universally
acceptable Chairman to the Medical Council. It will then proceed without
any loss of time to enact regulations to provide for the following
situations.
a) Minimum qualifications required to enter a medical faculty, public or private.
b) Conditions under which a first medical degree could be acquired in any sector.
c) Levelling disparities that may exist in the medical profession before, during and after the assumption of studies between participants from the two sectors
3. The
third question that may crop up is the question whether there is a
place for free medical education in this country. Much may be said on
both sides on this question but it is a policy question to be decided by
the Legislature of the country that initiated the free education
process. It is the Parliament that has the constitutional right to rule
on the matter. It is a pity that that institution has not interfered so
far to settle the argument that has been hanging fire, causing endless
inconvenience to road users and allowing valuable national assets to go
down the drain. May the Government take steps at least at this late
stage to settle this policy matter? Until that is done sooner than
later, it would be prudent to suspend recruitments to private medical
facilities. Both sides may canvass their point peacefully with the
Legislature. A final decision will be taken with a referendum, if
necessary.
4. Students
who have already entered private medical facilities present another
problem. They have spent much time, funds and energy on this score and
have to be looked after by the State. They cannot suffer or be faulted
for the past commissions or omissions of Government and its seeming lack
of vigilance. It is the State’s duty to provide for private medical
students who satisfy the entrance requirements laid down by the MC to
enter the profession.