Colombo Medical Faculty introduces spiritual health into its curriculum

Spiritual health: For the first time in the history of medical education in this country Colombo Medical Faculty has formally introduced a one hour lecture on 'spiritual health' for the 2nd year Medical students from this year.

Dr. Seneviratne Epa, past President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and a visiting lecturer in spiritual health at the Colombo Medical Faculty, speaking on this to the Healthwatch in an interview I had with him on Tuesday said that he spoke about the spiritual aspect of health in his presidential address at the SLMA in 2003, calling for the introduction of a spiritually oriented health model for Sri Lanka, where he said;

Its the end of the road now

"We have virtually come to the end of the present healthcare model and we certainly need to go in a new direction now in health.

Body mind interaction

"It should be a direction that recognises the 21st century understanding of body mind interaction.

"Two decades ago Dr. George Angel from the USA proposed Bio-psychosocial health model to replace the present 'Bio-medical health model' which does not have provision for a spiritual dimension.

He probably had acted on intuition as there was not as much scientific evidence at that time as we have today."

Dr. Epa went on to say, that he was very happy that at last with the introduction of spiritual health into the medical student curriculum in the Colombo Faculty a streak of light seems to be appearing in the distance of it, the spiritual change coming into the healthcare system formally in the country for betterment of the system and better health for the people.

He said in these spiritual lectures students are taught the basis of body mind interaction on health. How it could be manipulated for better health.

Mindful Meditation

Students are given mindful meditation during these lectures. He explained, body exists in a form of vibration and therefore mind is able to influence the body through modulation of this vibration status of the body.

Students, he says are taking to this new subject with keenness and interest. Recently a world authority on mind body interaction from USA Dr. Deepak Chopra had come to Colombo and given a lecture on this subject at the BMICH which had been attended by over 1000 people, which shows the awareness and interest people take on this subject,

Mind Body Centres in hospitals

Dr. Epa said that a proposal had been to the Health authorities to start 'Mind Body Centres' in Government Hospitals with a view to augment efficiency of allopathic treatment by way of promoting the inner healing component of the patients through meditation.

Pilot project

'In the private sector this has already been started in Matara in a private Medical clinic with success,' he said.

Passing out career guidance seminar

In the Colombo Medical Faculty at the doctors' career guidance seminar held at the time of appointment in the State sector spiritual health is given a slot, Dr. Epa said.

- E. A.