New minimum standards for medical education: G. L. Peiris
View(s):Education Minister G. L. Peiris has proposed minimum standards of medical education and a gazette notification will be issued soon after final approval is obtained.
“Two credit passes and one simple pass at the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) exam in one sitting, for chemistry, physics and biology are needed to apply for medical education,” Mr. Peiris told Parliament this week.
The decision was taken after receiving the consensus of themedical colleges and the Medical Council.
“The number of students admitted to state universities has increased by 10,500 this year and the number of students admitted to medical colleges has also increased by 371,” the Education Minister said.
“While increasing the number of admission for the medical colleges, steps should be taken to ensure a good standard for medical education and to develop a better system to produce enough doctors for hospitals island-wide,” he added. “This decision has been taken as about 700 doctors go abroad every year and we need a sufficient number of doctors to cater to the needs of our country. By providing a medical faculty to areas such as Badulla and Polonnaruwa it will be possible to provide a number of new facilities, and also solutions to health problems in those areas. It also ensures that more opportunities are given to the young generations,” the Minister said.
Plans are being drawn up to establish a new medical faculty in Uva Wellassa University, he said. The Minister said the Sabaragamuwa medical faculty, had helped to ease several prevailing health issues of the people living in that part of the country.
“The Government should facilitate this by defaulting the capacities. We are planning to get the assistance of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to make this happen,” Mr. Peiris said.