Three-month grace period given to British doc. to renew licence

28 April 2018 02:25 pm - 35 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In the wake of the controversy surrounding the British doctor who was performing heart surgeries at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) yesterday decided to allow him a three-month grace period to obtain the practising licence from the General Medical Council (GMC) in the United Kingdom.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) pulled up the case after noticing that British Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Richard Permin did not possess a licence to practice medicine in the UK as the licence needed to be renewed from time to time.

A spokesman for the SLMC told Daily Mirror that in the UK, doctors needed to be registered with its Medical Council and there is also a practising licence which needs renewing periodically.

He said however, unlike in the UK, only the SLMC’s registration is needed to practice as a doctor in Sri Lanka and the SLMC had registered him in 2009 after which it has been renewed on a number of occasions.

“In 2012, the UK introduced a new system where you could obtain a practising licence based on performance and a doctor cannot practice in UK without that licence. We have made inquiries from the GMC about this. Until recently, in the UK too you only need the GMC registration to practise,” he said.

He said Dr. Permin had been registered with the GMC until 2019, however, his practising licence was valid only until 2015 and added that there was no need for such licence to practice medicine in Sri Lanka as being registered with the SLMC would suffice, a stipulation that he has fulfilled.

“Since this issue had been raised, the SLMC has decided to give him three months to get his practising licence renewed. However, Dr. Permin has practised medicine in Sri Lanka since 2009. Therefore, we have decided to recommend that the Director General of Health Services institute action against him if there has been or is any issue with his practice which could risk patients’ lives in the future,” he said. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)

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Comments - 35

Brainmaster Saturday, 28 April 2018 01:00 PM

Just greedy and jalous GMOA crooks. This British specialist surgeon is much better qualified then them and operating free of charge. A thorn in the eyes of our stooges. via DM Android App

CS Saturday, 28 April 2018 03:04 PM

In effect, are you saying that this british doctor is properly registered in SRI LANKA and now you are forced to hassel him because of the GMOA? If so, then we can assume, that the Sri Lanka Medical Council has be 'taken over by the GMOA. He is performing surgeries, free of charge. What if he says "go to hell, I am going back to UK?Then the GMOA wins (again) and we the public lose (agian)Shame, Shame and Shame

Observer Saturday, 28 April 2018 03:14 PM

Clearly, this is a matter surpassing normal levels of professional jealousy.

Jagath Leanage Saturday, 28 April 2018 03:32 PM

We have seen hundreds of doctors practicing (Private Practice) who passed 70 and some of them are walking with great difficulty. Why don't GMOA stop them practicing at private hospitals?

Gp Sunday, 29 April 2018 09:50 AM

You are lucky its not the "white Van Government" GMOA would be history...

Dr.Siri Saturday, 28 April 2018 03:39 PM

Jealousy is the root cause.

Bala Sunday, 29 April 2018 12:13 PM

So it was with SAITM issue. GMOA did not want too many doctors to pass out.

Mandy Sunday, 29 April 2018 12:15 PM

Usual GMOA mafia to keep doctors numbers low for them to earn.

Gajaman Saturday, 28 April 2018 04:21 PM

Time to go and protest answer strike?? Or better how about an ‘inquiry’ by the president himself? Maybe better have a ‘committee’ to inquire and then protest? While you are at it bring it up inthe next general council meeting at the UN. I am sure this good surgeon is Moreno qualified than any of the quaka we have in silly Lanka.

Jaliya Saturday, 28 April 2018 04:36 PM

Is GMOA and SLMC lost or are they making a case out of nothing ? The British doctor doesn't have to renew his practicing license since he is not employed in the UK ... having such license has no merits when employed in Sri Lanka.... wish there were more people like this doctor from many foreign nations to kick out our blood sucking dishonest doctors out of business.

RDF Saturday, 28 April 2018 07:08 PM

License to practice is definitely a good thing. The issue is the GMOA is against it to be made law in SLMA. Thus doctors in Sri Lanka can continue to work with out any need to upgrade them selves. The MBBS for Sri Lankan doctors is sufficient to work until death.Then why are they insisting the british doc to have it. Please stop this duplicity.

Shelton W Saturday, 28 April 2018 05:33 PM

This. Dr. has all the basic qualifications and more and he is doing humanitarian work saving he lives of little children. What is more important mere scraps of paper registration or the welfare of children. Will one reporter visit this hospital and get the list of surgeries performed and lives saved and put the GMOA cretins to shame.

Ceylon Saturday, 28 April 2018 05:40 PM

Look at the proffesional jealousy.why the hell need licence to renew just like car licence.reason for renew is to loot miney by government.unions fir just disturb others.is this the job this trade union ??.

Living in Britain Saturday, 28 April 2018 05:45 PM

In theory Britain like most Western Countries have strict regulations for the Doctors to perform operations in Hospitals.But the reality has no correlation with these strict regulations in paper.Every year hundreds of patients die in British hospitals due to negligence or incompetence of the British Surgeons.

GW Saturday, 28 April 2018 07:33 PM

But the idiots in Sri Lanka think very high of British doctors.

Sofia Sunday, 29 April 2018 12:19 PM

OK let SLMC then introduce apractising doctors licence scheme for our greedy mafia called the GMOA as well.

kumar Monday, 30 April 2018 08:38 AM

why the hell then sri lankans go to uk to get MRCP, FRCS in uk.

mail4.miracle Saturday, 28 April 2018 06:09 PM

If Dr. Permin is registered with GMC till 2019, what is the need for him after so many years of helping the poor here, to be denied SLMC registration here. License to practice in UK is to update medicals there is not necessary to practice in Sri Lanka. If such was applied to local GMOA Ex Co in SLMC and outside, these TU striking jokers will fail.

Yehiya Saturday, 28 April 2018 06:26 PM

It's very shame. Are you like to introduce practise licence in Sri Lanka.

Don Saturday, 28 April 2018 06:39 PM

In UK, a doctor or any Medical Professional could renew their licence on-line, as all the personal history of the individual is available in the GMC website.

Sena Saturday, 28 April 2018 09:15 PM

This doctor sells surgical items required to this procedure to the health ministry, and he performs surgeries free of charge at government hospitals. He earns a lot of money indirectly which is unethical. The real problem is majority of patients died operated with this technoligy by this British doctor. Above comments show how ignorant Sri Lankan citizens are. Similat to this can a genious doctor from USA or Japan go to UK without duly regulatory procedure and do charity surgeries ? I think majority Sri Lankans need brain tra splants for sure.

Doctor Saturday, 28 April 2018 10:28 PM

Doctors in UK, need to undergo yearly appraisal. This includes attending to training lectures, life supports, fire and dealing with emergencies, 360* degree surveys, patients complements and any complaints, audit work, publishing on journals, further post graduate trainings, teachings, colleagues reports etc on yearly basis. Further every five years they should undergo revalidation procedures for fitness to practice. On the other hand in SL one has to only become a doctor and can practice without an further assessment for rest of his or her life !! No one assesses the fitness to practice after graduation. Thus SL medical council should follow General Medical Council of UK and introduce appraisals and revalidation for SL doctors to maintain standards.

Parathan Saturday, 28 April 2018 10:43 PM

How can you expect the Sri Lankans who live all their lives in Sri Lanka as frogs in wells to have Intelligence.

Sutha Saturday, 28 April 2018 11:25 PM

Doctor,I am residing in Britain for nearly 50 years.So please don’t fool already fooled Sri Lankan souls to imagine super things about British doctors. British doctors are as arrogant and stupid like Sri Lankan doctors.

Sanka Saturday, 28 April 2018 11:35 PM

Britain like other white countries is obsessed with unnecessary structures,rules,and evaluations. This puts lot of pressure on the participants and take away the confidence and creativity.Same thing England do with its cricketers but they do not win matches only in paper these rigidities look great.So talking about British doctors going through so many tests on a regular basis has no impact on the ground.

Jaliya Saturday, 28 April 2018 11:44 PM

Sena when you make a remark be clear of what you say ... looks like you are very confused and lost. MoH only purchase items from registered local suppliers and those suppliers would have to comply with all qualifications set forth by the NMRA in order for them to import any medical or surgical item ... are you telling this doctor is a registered supplier to the health ministry ? "majority of patients died operated with this technology by this British doctor" What technology ??? idiot don't make up a fake story.

Raj Sunday, 29 April 2018 01:53 AM

Jaliya,you are the clown and the idiot,not Sena. I live in Britain,the whites over here don’t even care for their own families, it is a selfish society. As such it does not make sense a British doctor would travel all the way to Sri Lanka to do charitable medical service. You gullible sod.

Jaliya Sunday, 29 April 2018 09:00 AM

What Doctor is explaining above is the vigorous process of renewal and what a medical officer has to comply to stay current with the British system. What Sena is referring to is idiotic doctors ....these two remarks NOT related at all.... Again, Sena is confused because he has been treated by the very same idiotic doctors he is referring to who are Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan doctors who practices in the UK whom has similar ethics and honesty as the majority you find here. I know the process their well enough to comment with confident.

Sena Sunday, 29 April 2018 08:55 AM

When I point the moon, some people talk about my finger. I have few questions for them.- Does the Brtish doctor or related parties supply instruments to the ministry -What is the success rate of his surgeries, It is less than 50%-Similarly can a doctor from Kenya or India come here and employed in government hospital without due regulations ?.(A doctor or any other profession like accountants, engineers). If so what are the establishment code recommendations for such appointments.- Does any one remember the chaos created by unregulated Indian doctors, when Indian Apollo hospital established here, there were consultants at ages even mid twenties, which is impossible.

Lord Wolfstein Sunday, 29 April 2018 10:47 AM

Why should this British doctor, who undoubtedly has a better medical education than any doctor trained in Sri Lanka, provide a practicing license from the General Medical Council (GMC) in the United Kingdom if he does not practice there? Then every GMOA Doctor would have to prove such a license to prove a good qualification. The difference is that the British Doctor can get such a license, but the GMOA Doctors can not.

Sena Sunday, 29 April 2018 10:53 AM

According to some comments, Whatever health sector development done so far in Sri Lanka is due to British and Foreign doctors includuing who served in war zones during war period. All Sri Lankan doctors are money greedy bunch of idiots who has no knowledge or skill at all.

Dinesh Nimal Sunday, 29 April 2018 02:27 PM

Wonder why the GMOA did not make it an issue when "Dr." Eliyantha White 'practiced' ??

GH Monday, 30 April 2018 12:41 AM

Do you know, many patients treated by licensed doctors of Sri Lanka are dying silently even after spending exorbitant sum of money.

nath Monday, 30 April 2018 02:33 AM

These are the official data of ECMO so far done in T.H.Karapitiya . It was said each ECMO kit for a patient costs approximately Rs 50 lakhs . Those who are too smart in their mathematics can calculate the total cost beared by the Government of Sri Lanka on behalf of those 13 patients and give a rough idea of its cost effectiveness for a third world country like ours.

SENA Monday, 30 April 2018 10:18 AM

Since 2009 to 2017 no problem. All were sleeping. Now they have awaken. Be straight forward you don't want him to practice say it like men.

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Three-month grace period given to British doc. to renew licence

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