Amendments to KDU (Special Provisions) bill sought: FEMTA

The Dean and the Academic Staff of the Colombo University Medicine Faculty have sent a letter to President Mathripala Sirisena to take immediate action to amend the KDU (Special Provisions) Bill, Federation of Faculty of Medicine Teachers’ Association of Sri Lanka (FFMTA) sources said.

They had requested the President to amend the Bill taking into account the recommendations made by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and the State Medical Faculties.

They pointed out in the letter the importance of maintaining the highest standards of medical education and competencies of health professionals in Sri Lanka without prejudice and conflict of interest.

The letter says SAITM students with minimum advanced level qualifications of two credit passes (C) and one simple pass stipulated by the SLMC in 2010 are eligible to enter medical schools. Those who have already completed the SAITM study programme should complete an additional mandatory training recommended by the SLMC and must face an examination to access competency.

It was explicitly acknowledged by the SAITM and the Government that the training and clinical exposure of these students were inadequate.

Copies of the letter had been forwarded to the Prime Minister, Health Minister, Higher Education Minister and to all the other relevant authorities, the sources said.