The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) urges the Government to take necessary measures to safeguard the standards of the country’s medical education and the practice of medicine.
In a letter to the President which was signed by its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya and Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando, the GMOA said that the Government is duty bound to uphold the standards of Medical Practice and the Medical Education in the country.
This is being implemented according to the Medical Ordinance through the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).
Contrary to the standard practice of SLMC during the tenure of Dr.Rajitha Senarathe as the Minister of Health, the institution was abused in many ways.
1. Refrained from supporting the SLMC in Courts of Law.
2. Appointed his associates to the council in an unprecedented manner.
3. The SLMC Presidents of the past used to occupy the position for two consecutive five-year terms, however during Dr. Rajitha Senarathne’s era there were three presidents for five years with the offices of President and Registrar mostly being vacant.
“When the new Government assumed duties, there were five major issues in the SLMC including the purposeful delaying of SLMC elections, failure to ensure minimum standards and registering candidates without minimal qualifications, issues related to de-recognition of foreign universities, undue delay of ERPM examination and abusing the SLMC disciplinary procedure to take revenge from political opponents of former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne.” the GMOA letter stated.
The letter further stated that the President and other appointees of Dr. Rajitha Senarathne did not have the courtesy to step down but continued to facilitate Dr. Senarathne’s vested interest within the SLMC.
“When we pointed out to Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health, regarding the above serious concerns and irregularities, she obtained legal advice from three Presidents Counsels and the Attorney General and appointed an Expert Committee which entertained the formal complaints in writing as well as verbal and gave an opportunity for those implicated to give explanations. We were reliably informed that the expert committee gave recommendations to discontinue the services of Dr. Senarathne’s appointees, after considering all the representations.” it said.
“Going by the recommendations of the Committee and the legal opinion the Minister of Health terminated the services of Dr. Rajitha Senarathnes’s appointees including the President, SLMC, using the Medical Ordinance and Interpretation Ordinance in the best interest of patient care and the practice of Medical Profession in the country.” it added.
While appreciating the timely decision of the President and his government through the Minister of Health, the GMOA urged the government to stand by the standards of Medical Practice and Medical Education in the country.