Malabe private Medical College:

Minister takes many decisions

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Ravindra Ruberu yesterday said that Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has taken a number of decisions in connection with Malabe Private Medical College.

They are, obtaining a report on the relevant Cabinet paper through a five member committee and obtaining another report within two months on the standard of the Malabe Private Medical College. Another decision requests not to recruit any more students to the College until the report is obtained. The last decision is to legalize the prescribed standards of medical faculties within two months. According to Dr. Ruberu, Minister Sirisena took those decisions after considering the facts presented to him by the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) and the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).

The SLMC chairman pointed out that it is impossible to produce a standard report on Malabe Private Medical College and therefore it was requested not to recruit any students. He also pointed out that the gazette notification is not relevant to the present students and therefore the SLMC cannot accept their Degree.

The GMOA pointed out that the conditions stated in the gazette notification number 1721/19 cannot be met during the relevant time frame. It also pointed out that the standard is a must and a very important requirement for any medical College. Therefore awarding the Medical Degree for an institute without required standards cannot be accepted on any grounds, Dr. Ruberu added.