The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) is to go ahead with its decision to hold the Surgery Long and Short Cases segments in the Examination to Register to Practise Medicine (ERPM) (Part B), which took place at the Eastern University examination centre earlier this year, again.
A group of medical graduates who have received their degrees from foreign universities recently urged the SLMC to revisit its decision to hold the said Examination again.
When queried as to whether there would be any change to the decision, the SLMC Registrar, Dr. Hemantha Herath said that they are currently making arrangements to hold the Examination on the scheduled dates of 14 and 15 May.
“All the relevant parties are well aware of the concerns raised by these students. So, they (the SLMC President and the Council Members) will have to make a decision and inform us whether to revise this decision or not. Unless and until a fresh decision is made, we will go ahead with the decision to hold this Examination again.”
Since a group of affected students had recently met with Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and the Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala, The Daily Morning queried Dr. Herath as to whether the SLMC has received any directions from the Ministry, to which he replied: “The Ministry has referred the same complaint forwarded to me by a group of students. I have referred it to the SLMC President and the SLMC’s Examinations Unit.” When queried as to whether it has been forwarded to the Council Members, he said: “Communications with Council Members is usually done at the Council meeting, or by the SLMC President.”
It is meanwhile learnt that Council Members have not been informed of the students' concerns, and that they are seeking a Council meeting to discuss the matter. Dr. Herath said that a Council meeting can be called by the SLMC President, or upon a request made by the Council Members.
The group of candidates in question, in a recent letter addressed to Dr. Herath, said that the reason given for the SLMC's decision to hold the said Examination again is “the failure of the particular examination centre to conduct the Examination according to the guidelines stipulated by the Council”, but, noted that it is unclear as to what guidelines have been violated. They said that the decision of the Council and the guidelines which have allegedly been violated have not been posted on the official website of the SLMC or of the Department of Examinations, and added that there was nothing detrimental to them as candidates in the conduct of the said Examination.
Emphasising that they prepare for and face examinations amidst severe constraints and obstacles, the group of graduates said that the decision of the Council serves to deprive them of the fruit of their hard work. They accordingly urged Dr. Herath and the SLMC to consider their grievances, set aside the annulment of the previously held Examination, and proceed to release their results.