'Private Medical Colleges in line with government policy'

Dharma Sri Abeyratne and Ridma Dissanayake

In accordance with the higher education policy of the government, private universities including private Medical Colleges, would be allowed to carry out academic activities in the country, Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

The minister was addressing the media yesterday at the Higher Education Ministry regarding granting of approval for establishing private universities including a private Medical College at Malabe.

With regard to establishing a private Medical College, the Government Medical Officers' Association will stage a countrywide four hour strike today in protest against the gazette notification issued by Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayake recognising Malabe private Medical College as a degree awarding institute. Extraordinary gazette notification 1721-19 of August 30, 2011 has been issued granting approval to a establish private medical college at Malabe and award medical degrees.

Responding this issue, Minister SB Dissanayake said that two more proposals have been forwarded by certain former deans, professors in Colombo and Peradeniya medical faculties together with specialist doctors seeking the approval of the Higher Education Ministry to establish two private Medical Colleges. These proposals are being looked at by the Ministry, the Minister said.

"If they are practical and are in line to meet the requirements, most probably these two proposals will be approved. Similar to many other countries, including China and Russia, more world class private universities will be established in the future opening the door for more students to follow various degree programmes," the minister added.

There are 27 private and government institutions which award degrees in the country. The ministry is formulating a set of guidelines to monitor the overall quality of both government and private universities.

The minister further added that a considerable number of students enrol with foreign universities to follow medical degrees. Even though they spend a significant amount of money, the quality of these universities are low. A medical student has to spend Rs 50 million for obtaining a degree in the UK and around Rs 30 million for following a medical degree in India. However, the Malabe private university will charge only Rs 6 million.

University Grants Commission chairman Professor Gamini Samaranayake said that members of the Government Medical Officers' Association do not oppose private hospitals even though they oppose the private Medical College.

They are envious of poor students who are not financially sound entering private Medical Colleges to follow foreign medical degrees.