• Accreditation Unit of SLMC finds shortcomings in standards, awaits proof of rectification 

In the wake of the problematic situation which has arisen with regard to the Professorial Training Unit established at the Provincial General (Teaching) Hospital in Ratnapura for the Medical Faculty students of the Sabaragamuwa University, the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) stated that they have also realised that the relevant students will be rendered helpless if the issue is not addressed promptly.

Following the relevant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between several parties, the provision of the Professorial Unit-based medical training to students of the Medical Faculty of the Sabaragamuwa University at the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital commenced on 18 December of last year (2023). 

The Medical Faculty Students Action Committee has however raised concerns over the standards of the said arrangement. In a letter dated 24 January of this year (2024), the Committee has informed the SLMC members that there is a fair ground that the programme which is being followed by the medical students of the Sabaragamuwa University will undoubtedly create problematic situations for the future of medical education. The Committee urged the necessity of a broader approach in the accreditation process, considering the smooth functioning of the other medical faculties and the future of medical education.

However, a medical specialist who is privy to the programme of the provision of the relevant training to the Sabaragamuwa University's medical students at the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital, said that the programme is only a temporary programme and that the SLMC's relevant Unit should grant the required accreditation to the said programme. The specialist claimed that there is a doubt as to whether someone from the SLMC itself is influencing the Action Committee to write against the programme. "Some of the professorial units of medical faculties of other universities had the same scenario some time ago. The General John Kotelawala Defence University's (KDU) medical students also did not have a proper professorial unit. They initially underwent the relevant training at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. Very recently, the KDU Hospital in Werahera was established as a Professorial Unit, but, it does not have many patients. No one raised these concerns when there were such arrangements," the specialist said, and further claimed that the SLMC's relevant officials have not referred the relevant documents which are required to process the accreditation of a professorial unit at the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital, to the relevant Unit within the SLMC.

When contacted by The Daily Morning to inquire about the allegations, the SLMC's Registrar, Dr. Hemantha Herath said that there is no need for the SLMC to sabotage the programme in question. "There is no need for us (SLMC) to influence anyone against this programme. The accreditation of these trainings is done by the Accreditation Unit of the SLMC. It is an independent body. What we know is that the Unit has observed that this programme with regard to the Sabaragamuwa University lacks some required standards. They have informed it to the relevant authorities. So, they should rectify the shortcomings and fulfil the required standards without blaming others. When it is done, the accreditation will be given. We have also realised that students will become very helpless if this issue is not addressed promptly."

It was recently reported that the deans of a few other medical faculties are also against the planned programme to provide the students of the Sabaragamuwa University with the relevant training with the support of medical specialists attached to the Health Ministry, and that they were planning to have an immediate discussion on the matter. It was learnt that certain deans were of the view that this preparation would have a negative impact on other medical faculties for which there were clinical services consisting of medical specialists attached to the universities themselves.