By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Medical Amendment Bill which provides provisions for the government to recognize over 1000 foreign medical colleges was unanimously approved by Parliament yesterday.  Minister of Health Dr. Ramesh Pathirana who referred to the Bill said it will enable Sri Lanka to recognize foreign medical colleges which enjoy slots in the global rankings. We shall be recognizing first 1000 medical colleges in the global ranking,” he said.

“There are around 300 Sri Lankan doctors who have qualified from foreign medical colleges. They are unable to work in Sri Lanka as our country does not recognize the medical colleges from which they are qualified. This new Bill will enable them to work in Sri Lanka as Sri Lanka will be recognizing the universities which they have qualified from,” the Minister said.   

“This will also help us to provide an opportunity to find a solution to the dearth of specialist doctors including surgeons, pediatricians and psychiatrists,” he added.  

The Minister also said some of the doctors who have migrated have indicated their desire to return to the island as they have found the situation in Sri Lanka better than the situation of the nations to which they have found work. “The new legislation will help these doctors to return,” he said.