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| Friday, 1 October 2004 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday threatened to withdraw from the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) if the Assistant and Registered Medical Officers are registered with the SLMC. "If the AMOs and RMOs are given registration by the SLMC, it will be a threat to the standards of the medical care delivered in the country, GMOA Secretary Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya told a press briefing yesterday. He also warned that the GMOA would resort to strong trade union action if any disciplinary action is taken against them due to their withdrawal from the SLMC. "We need not be governed by the Medical Council if the Council is not in a position to maintain professional standards, Dr. Padeniya added. Out of the 11,000 medical officers registered with the SLMC, nearly 90 per cent are GMOA members, he added. Padeniya explained that the SLMC had failed to place necessary information before the Courts and this has led to a serious crisis in the medical field. "Therefore, they should take full responsibility for the country's pathetic health sector." Padeniya noted that AMOs and RMOs who had followed only a six months course in Russia are now requesting the SLMC to register them as doctors. "This is highly unjustifiable and would lead to a severe crisis." He said the SLMC issues registration to medical graduates only when they complete medical degree at a recognised medical faculty for a period of 6 years. "Since Russian Medical degrees include one year training on Russian language it takes minimum of 7 years to complete medical degree. But we understand that a group of candidates who obtained leave from the Ministry of Health had obtained their so-called medical degree within 6 months." He alleged that when their applications for registration were rejected by the SLMC, subsequently these candidates with the help of certain officials in the Ministry of Health misrepresented facts to courts and is in the process of pressuring the SLMC to register them. He also lamented that the SLMC had even failed to take any effective action to prevent quacks and unqualified persons practising as doctors. While stressing that this registration would lead to a severe crisis, Padeniya urged the Health Minister and high officials of the Health Ministry to intervene to resolve this crisis. "We request the Ministry bring in necessary legislation if the present ones are not sufficient, in order to prevent unqualified persons getting into the medical field as it would harm the public health sector," he added. |
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