Solve SAITM issue without delay: MR

27 December 2017 05:10 pm Views - 5968

The SAITM issue, which has already come to the attention of the medical authorities in countries like the UK and Australia, should be resolved in a just and reasonable manner without further delay, former president MP Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

In a statement, he said the government finally announced that the SAITM medical degree will be abolished.

“However, the parties concern complain that this pledge is not being implemented. The government should ensure that there is no further disruption of medical education with university students taking to the streets and medical officers forced into taking trade union action on account of this disputed medical degree course,” he said.

He said the medical education in the country has been at a complete standstill since 2016.

“In a situation where the students who qualified to enter the medical faculties in 2016 have not yet commenced their courses, the students who passed the A/L examination in 2017 will also be awaiting entry into the medical faculties. Since clinical practice is mandatory in addition to lectures, medical faculties have difficulties in taking in a new batch without the previous one going on to the next stage,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.

He further said the continuation of this dispute over standards and accreditation in medical education could also place the international status of all Sri Lankan medical degrees at risk.