General Practitioners throw their support behind private medical college

As long as they are socially accountable

September 30, 2011, 12:00 pm

President of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka(CGPSL) , Eugene Corea in a media release says that the college supports private medical education that is socially responsible, socially accountable and regulated by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). After the lessons learnt that history has taught them, they say that the college of Sri Lanka General Practitioners has a clear policy of private medical education in Sri Lanka.

The release said that the Social responsibility meant that the developments in the private sector should take great care to prevent any harm done to the free state sector higher education institutions. It would also include the development of hospital facilities which are made available free of charge to citizens of the country and the provision of scholarships for qualified under privileged students.

The North Colombo Medical College (NCMC) was created by the CGPSL and the College handed back infrastructure for teaching and training including a new library, several large buildings, a professorial wing and hospital that had been vastly improved when the NCMC was vested in Government. To date not a cent in compensation has been received by the CGPSL. Nevertheless the College is very proud of the eight hundred odd high caliber NCMC Alumni who are looking after the health of our people and those abroad.

"Taking on board the lessons that history taught us, the CGPSL now has a clear policy on private sector medical education in Sri Lanka. Our policy is that we support private medical education that is socially responsible, socially accountable and regulated by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).

"Social accountability would include issues of relevance, equity, quality and safety of training and research with regard to the community in which the private sector facility is situated.

The CGPSL emphasised the role that the Sri Lanka Medical Council had to play. It was the key in this exercise and the SLMC was the statutory body vital for the maintaining of good professional standards and safety of our people. The College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka fervently appealed to the powers that be and to those intending to set up private medical educational institutions in the country to pay heed to the recommendations and the guidance of the Sri Lanka Medical Council in these matters.

"The College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka (CGPSL) whole heartedly supports the development of private sector medical education in the country. The CGPSL has played and will continue to play a pivotal role in private sector medical education in Sri Lanka.