Parents of private medical college students threaten fast

April 15, 2012, 6:29 pm , The Island

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The parents of the medical students of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (private medical college) have decided to urge the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to drop its opposition to it and to show any shortcomings still existing in it for correction.

The gazette notification recognizing it issued on August 30, 2011 has recognized student batches enrolled from that date, but students in one to four batches who enrolled earlier have not been included in the notification.

If the parents of the medical students did not receive a favourable response to their appeal, they had decided to stage a fast until the degree is recognized by the relevant authorities, Malabe PMC Parent Association Chairman Dr. Ms. Samanthika Mendis told media conference at Narahenpita Women’s Centre last week.

Dr. Ms. Mendis said that an injustice had been meted out to its one to four batches, because those four batches were enrolled before August 30, 2011. The Parents Association had also made a complaint to the Sri Lanka Human Right Commission regarding the injustice.

She said out that the parents of PMC students were professionals, most of them were doctors. The Parents’ Association was of the view that by providing a medical education locally Sri Lanka could save a substantial amount of foreign exchange. The GMOA, since the inception of the school, had objected to the project for unknown reasons.

"We, as parents, decided to enter our daughters and sons with the best intentions. That is to receive a medical education without sending them to foreign countries. There may have been some omission and commissions, but they have to be put down to our over eagerness to ensure that our children get a better medical education," Dr. Ms. Mendis stressed.

When contacted GMOA General Secretary Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa said that it was a folly to stage a fast to win their demands. The GMOA would never recognize any degree awarded by the Malabe PMC, because the SAITM did not have basic facilities like a hospital for medical students to engage in clinical practice.

Dr. Epitakaduwa added that the SAITM would be entirely responsible for the fast of the parents. In case something happened to any parents, the SAITM management would be responsible.