SLMA underlines need for quality healthcare

ERPM mandatory, it says:

The Sri Lanka Medical Association has noted the recent discussions in the media on the Examination of Registration to Practice Medicine in Sri Lanka (ERPM) examination. An article written by President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council Prof. Lalitha Mendis, clarifying on the facts of the matter was published in the Island on September 1, 2010 and the Daily News on September 2, 2010. As pointed out in the article, the training, knowledge and skills of foreign medical graduates varies widely. As the regulatory authority of the medical profession in Sri Lanka, it is the responsibility of the Sri Lanka Medical Council to ensure that a medical graduate who is registered by the Council has sufficient knowledge and skills to diagnose and manage patients without endangering them.

It is therefore necessary to have an examination to assess whether the required competencies have been attained to an acceptable level by foreign medical graduates.

Similar examinations are held in most countries of the world including USA, UK, Australia and nearer to home, by Singapore, Malaysia, India and Nepal.

Sri Lanka is known internationally for the high standards in the provision of healthcare, as evidenced by key indices such as high life expectancy, low maternal mortality etc. International authorities also consider that the standard of practice of medicine in Sri Lanka is high. We are proud of it. It is necessary to maintain these high standards.

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Medical Association considers that it is mandatory to continue the ERPM, and supports the SLMC in all efforts to maintain the quality of the medical profession in Sri Lanka.