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We are considering Ministry proposals: SAITM head

15 February 2017 09:20 pm - 22     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) said yesterday they were considering the proposals set out by Ministry of Higher Education and University Grants Commission and that they would have further discussions with the relevant authorities.  

SAITM Chairman Neville Fernando said in a statement that the SAITM would cooperate and support the government’s future measures applicable to non state medical education with a broader objective of ensuring standards of medical graduates.  

“Without any prejudice to the rights of the graduates granted through the Court of Appeal decision, we are considering the proposals set out by Ministry of Higher Education and University Grants Commission and we will have further discussions with the relevant authorities,” he said.  

He said the SAITM had fullest confidence that the Government and legal system of Sri Lanka would take all necessary measures to ensure that their students are treated fairly and given equal opportunity.   

The Higher Education Ministry earlier proposed to suspend the admission of students to SAITM for six months until the completion of the periodic review on its medical degree programme to refer students who already completed the degree to undergo a month each on clinical training in Medicine, Gynecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics in a state hospital following a discussion with the medical faculty deans.

They also proposed that the SAITM students would have to pass a licensing examination conducted by the SLMC.


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  Comments - 22

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  • SL Thursday, 16 February 2017 07:10 AM

    who is at fault? students were protesting at road to bring lecturers,professors,gvt did not pay the attention .If we all say happily to go for privatization of education this will be the situation in all other gvt unives with no funding for research or maintenance

    Vernon Thursday, 16 February 2017 09:15 PM

    Nihal you have not understood. SAITM is one approved by the UGC. Hence by law they need not sit Act 16

    sd Thursday, 16 February 2017 01:14 PM

    very good. This is what majority citizens require.

    Quackula Thursday, 16 February 2017 11:30 AM

    This is for Nihal. If the local Doctors are that good, explain why people who have the means, including politicians, go overseas for treatment. Don't know what country you are talking about. Certainly not the majority of Sri Lankan "doctors"

    Kumar Thursday, 16 February 2017 10:17 AM

    Any average person with about 18 months of training can do what the Doctors do.

    Nihal Thursday, 16 February 2017 08:54 AM

    Oops, someone is a flag waving henchman of SAITM. Sir, as a member of the public who has been treated by our home-grown docs for many, many years, let me tell you that their quality is better than some of the western docs. They are committed to the patient not to saving their own backs by playing safe.

    Nihal Thursday, 16 February 2017 08:51 AM

    Some of the comments are so uneducated, misinformed and inane. In every country their are particular standards that are set for Medical practitioners. IF a doctor goes from here, after being educated in the State Medical College, to the west - to Aussie or Britain -they HAVE to sit an exam and their eligibility to practice depends on how they fare in that testing. When doctors who have been educated in Russia or China come to SL they have to sit the ACT16 to become eliigible to practice. So, why waive this requirement for SAITM students? Does Neville Fernando and his professors think they are a cut above the other professors teaching in the State Uni's ? Or do they produce students who are impeachably advanced in their medical know-how that they can just waltz into the medical field in SL sans the standardizing tests made imperative for those educated even overseas? You are plating with the life of the public here and we need to know that we can trust these SAITM students/graduates.

    Perumal Thursday, 16 February 2017 08:40 AM

    You are bigots, fanatics, unreasonable and nonsensical.

    Bingo Thursday, 16 February 2017 08:09 AM

    Your sound misleading mate. I also do not see your point here. So you think someone spend 10 million will go to rural hospital and work? And if you talk about quality have a look at GAMSAT

    sobers Thursday, 16 February 2017 07:59 AM

    Attend on the shortcomings if any and also increase the standards so that foreign students too could be enrolled and you could obtain a world ranking for saitm. But, the GMOA or University students have no authority or request to ban private education. They are being looked after by Tax payers money mainly from the private sector. They should understand basics of economics, Already foreigners including china are becoming reluctant to invest due to unnecessary protests. The problem with Srilankans is the society is turning to be jealousy and fanatic!No unity hatred is the subject.

    daya Thursday, 16 February 2017 07:31 AM

    In Australia once they select candidates to medical stream they have to face an interview. Simply exam results is not enough. This is to drop individuals with poor attitudes. Our state university medical faculties are full of such sick personality with poor attitudes as there is no mechanism to drop mentally sick. Such characters will engage in medical mafia and hidden politics. Why there are so many rural and suburban hospitals with no doctors? Why certain rural / suburban hospitals are run by just AMPs? Why there are no researchers in the medical field? Attitude problems is the answer. Good quality private medical education will solve this problem.

    Bala Wednesday, 15 February 2017 10:14 PM

    I am sure the students of SAITM will be better than Rajarata and Batticoloa Unis and better in all round demeanour for a doctor.

    sanji Thursday, 16 February 2017 06:19 AM

    If SITM students dream is to be better than gov. doctor ... Try to be a better doctor for the public .. via DM Android App

    Kumar Thursday, 16 February 2017 05:36 AM

    Every one ask your selves what happens when you visit your Doctor,Is the Doctor thinking deep science or doing complicated Mathematics to treat your medical problem?When the answer is obviously NO, Does it matter matter where they get their degrees from?

    RuwanL Thursday, 16 February 2017 05:27 AM

    No issues! as long as government university MBBS doctors don't practice in private hospitals!

    Jay Thursday, 16 February 2017 04:56 AM

    Government should make private practice by Government doctors, illegal. Then majority of money hungry sharks will leave Government sector. Enrol more and more doctors to Government Hospitals from any acceptable university. If number of experienced doctors in government sector is not enough, get foreign doctors as an exchanged program. In developed countries if you are a professional working for government, you are not allowed to practice same profession privately as it is a conflict of interest. This should be applied to Sri Lanka as well. GMOA had always took all governments and patients as ransom to demand what they want, not the poor public wants. They are jealous of having more doctors presence in the society as their arrogant status in society will be compromised. In developed countries, in the society the status of the doctor or a cleaner same. This SAITAM saga is a Class and Jealousy game. Who in the government has the backbone to do this?

    Jay Thursday, 16 February 2017 04:55 AM

    Everyone should sit back and think what the country wants. We with professional with appropriate training and knowledge. Who can give that? That is a university with appropriate teaching and training resources. Then who should run this. If the Government has funds and resources, it will run that university. If the government dont have, then private sector should run it.Access to education is a human right. Irrespective of you are poor or rich, you cannot deny that right. It is completely legal to have a private university as long as the study course, training requirements are approved by relevant authorities and professional bodies. If a person chose to pay for studies, be it and let that person learn and become a doctor. Solution is not preventing the operation of SAITAM. Help them to get develop resources to an acceptable level. Allow more and more Private Medical Universities opened in Sri Lanka. (continued below)

    Mahila Thursday, 16 February 2017 04:42 AM

    We have to find a reasonable solution to the dearth in doctors to man our public hospitals, which is used by the rural and urban, poor/lower middle income group. We need to change with an evolving situation to meet contingencies without compromising quality. If Government cannot invest further in free education from tax payers money, then a way out of this mess private sectorfunding under strict guidelines from investors.

    Ram Thursday, 16 February 2017 01:40 AM

    GMOA mafia and SLMC are silent on this proposed settlement. Padeniya and De Soysa why don't you express your views on this? I wonder if this too will be a stale mate as the Avissawella Hospital settlement before the Supreme Court. Follow the settlement arrived at the SC and those who fail to implement it bring them for contempt of Court. Stern action is the solution

    Anonymous Thursday, 16 February 2017 01:28 AM

    I see someone is jealous that the SAITM students might be better than they are via DM Android App

    Citizen Concerned Thursday, 16 February 2017 01:01 AM

    Pls keep those under-trained monkeys away from Government Hospitals. Dont make innocent citizens pay for the screw ups by Neville. Make them go to private hospitals. Cant help if they are not taken by the private sector either.

    Asrar Wednesday, 15 February 2017 11:02 PM

    No means No , don't even try to bring them to anywhere near to our hospitals


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