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Applications for private medical schools under evaluation but no policy framework, says SLMC
View(s):By Dilushi Wijesinghe
Attempts to expand Sri Lanka’s private medical education sector are ongoing without a formal policy to guide or regulate it. Despite more institutions seeking recognition and rising student interest, no national framework exists.
Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa confirmed that there is no policy on private medical education. Neither was there any policy dialogue.
Meanwhile, a 2024 Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) analysis found that medical education should not be expanded without a proper feasibility study and a national policy, Assistant Secretary Chamil Wjesinghe said.
“There should be no room for errors,” he stressed. “Standards must be maintained, as we are dealing with human lives.”
Dr. Wijesinghe pointed out that medical education is not confined to lecture halls. “Teaching hospitals are essential for proper training. But due to the exodus and brain drain in the country, the number of academic staff has fallen sharply,” he said. “Whether state or non-state, the quality will inevitably decline because the remaining pool of professionals is the same.”
“We must identify limiting factors, address them, and recognise shortcomings and challenges. Existing medical faculties and their staff must be supported and safeguarded first. Priority must be given to protecting and strengthening the current workforce,” he held.
While the Cabinet gave approval for three private medical colleges to be established in 2023, ambiguity still surrounds their recognition.
Registrar of the Sri Lanka Medical Council Dr. D.H.B Herath said: “The SLMC has not certified, accepted, or accredited any private medical institutions to date”, confirming that while several applications for private medical schools are currently being evaluated, none has been formally recognised.
These evaluations are being conducted by the SLMC’s independent accreditation unit, which is responsible for maintaining standards and protecting patient safety. “As far as the SLMC is concerned, there is no written policy on private medical education,” he added.
Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) President Professor Vajira Dissanayake highlighted that the fundamental issue is the “lack of an overall policy on healthcare workforce at the country level.” This is not limited to doctors. The gap includes nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, laboratory technologists, carers, and occupational therapists, he said.
The mismatch between medical education and employment is also creating serious social consequences. Many talented students are unable to enter government medical schools due to quota systems and limited seats. As a result, they pursue education overseas, often at great financial cost.
There were also students who targeted foreign medical schools due to difficulties in applying to local medical faculties. However, they were faced with other challengers such as communication barriers instead.
“I did my Edexcel A/Ls, and then joined the Medical State University of Belarus to study General Medicine,” said 20-year-old Amanda Sugatadasa who has been there for close to two years. “We were required to learn their mother tongue, which was a bit of a challenge, and it was also hard to adapt to their customs and traditions. The cost to apply was affordable, but as a policy, you can’t work while you study.”
Mark Sellathurai, a 29-year-old who attended an international school before entering Manipal University in India, said, “I chose Cambridge A/Ls because I found it easier to tackle. The shift to submitting and applying for university was tough.”
He also highlighted the language barrier aced by international students: “During my internship, the language barrier meant I had to learn multiple languages, which also created a barrier between doctor and patient.”
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