Coordinated & Compiled by Edward Arambewala

SLMA Council to the UGC

Poor planning; monitoring; problem anticipation leads to student unrest

The Council of Sri Lanka Medical Association has written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) calling upon that body to ensure proper planning, anticipating future problems in setting up new universities as failure to do so could lead to student unrest in them.

The SLMA states in its letter: "Many universities have begun BSc course in the paramedical sciences. Some of them are sadly lacking in facilities, staff and funds, although much was promised.

Has the UGC bought together the Directors/Co-ordinators of those institutions involved in paramedical training to collectively examine needs and the way forward and to standardise curriculums? "Poor planning and monitoring and poor anticipation of problems could lead to student unrest."

Peradeniya, Rajarata and Colombo

"We have already experienced such a problem at Peradeniya, and the students of Rajarata and Colombo are protesting."

Here's the full text of the letter sent by Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa to the HealthWatch.

Unplanned or poorly planned and precipitated commencement of Medical and Allied Health Sciences Courses in universities:

We are addressing this letter to you as the Council of the Sri Lank Medical Association to express our deep concerns about the above matter.

As you are aware, during the past two years the University Grants Commission has funded the commencement of a new medical school and other allied health sciences courses.

Sadly, in most instances, students were taken into these courses even before the basic infrastructure including physical facilities were in place, curriculums developed, and permanent staff recruited.

The mainstay

The mainstay of the Faculty of Medicine at the Rajarata University are four teachers two of whom are on Sabbatical leave and the others are retired senior academics of the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya.

They through their dedication and commitment have performed a commendable job and set u the preclinical teaching programme. However, what will happen when the period of sabbatical leave of these two is over? Only two permanent staff have been recruited so far and they too are non-medical.

Should not the full complement of permanent staff have been recruited to work with these experienced teachers who could have taken over the departments from them? In addition, about 15 so-called 'Assistant Lecturers' have been recruited who are all pre-intern doctors.

They will leave no sooner they are given internship appointments. The majority then, of the academic staff, are the most junior of junior doctors in the land, is this at all an acceptable situation?

We hear now

About 180 students were sent to this faculty - taking into account the four senior teachers and two permanent members of the academic staff, the staff to student ratio is 1:30! We hear now that another 180 or so students are being sent to this faculty.

The staff to student ratio will then be ridiculous 1:60. The UGC is well aware that the staff to student ratio for a faculty of medicine should be about 1:8. Such a small coterie of teachers excludes the possibility of small group teaching such as tutorials and of close supervision.

What plans are there?

What plans are there for para-clinical and clinical teaching? These departments should have been set up from the outset.

What is the optimum number of students for this faculty on the basis of facilities available such as facilities for clinical training, accommodation, lecture halls, library, academic staff and non-academic staff?

How many students can do rotational appointments in the Anuradhapura Hospital? What plans are there to set up professorial teaching unit in this hospital? The current accepted trend in medical education is to introduce clinical teaching from the start in the preclinical years, and other medical faculties in the island are following this.

Is the UGC which is supposed to guard educational standards satisfied to have medical faculties of such varying standards in the island? Has the quality control arm of the UGC performed any external review of the situation at the Rajarata Faculty of Medicine? Uncomfortable questions no doubt, but that medical schools are being set up with such scant planning and respect for standards is a very serious indictment on the UGC.

We have no doubt

We have no doubt that you and your Council Members are aware that even in the poorer developing countries in our own region, the planning for a medical school, and the provision of the minimum resources and facilities - at least a core of teachers, laboratory equipment and supplies and essential books always precede the admission of students.

You will agree that we need to exercise at least minimum care in the way we plan our professional education institutions.

Now we hear

Now, we hear that another Faculty of Medicine is to be opened at Sabaragamuwa. We would like to ask what planning and staff recruitment has gone into this venture.

Have an experienced group of academics been appointed to study its feasibility? It is not as though there is a paucity of guidelines, e.g. in October 2004, the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors printed a document entitled 'Subject Benchmark Statement in Medicine'.

Furthermore, the Sri Lanka Medical Council 'Prescribed Minimum Standards for Recognising Medical Schools' has been gazetted in the government gazette of March 13, 2007, No. 1488/14

Badly lacking in facilities

Many universities have begun BSc course in the paramedical sciences.

Some of them are badly lacking in facilities, staff and funds, although much was promised. Has the UGC bought together the Directors/Co-ordinators of those institutions involved in paramedical training to collectively examine needs and the way forward and to standardise curriculums?

Student unrest

"Poor planning and monitoring and poor anticipation of problems could lead to student unrest." Peradeniya, Rajarata and Colombo.

We have already experienced such a problem at Peradeniya, and the students of Rajarata and Colombo are protesting.

We view with concern

We view with concern the unfortunate lack of planning, scrutinised implementation and coordination in the production of Human Resources for Health.

Clearly there needs to be close coordination between Higher Education Ministry, Faculties of Medicine and the Health Ministry.

Informed decisions should be taken based on the needs of the country, and employment prospects, e.g. do we know whether the BSc graduates that the universities are producing in physiotherapy etc will be absorbed by the Ministry of Health? If so on what salary scale etc? If the prospect of jobs is mostly in the private sector or overseas students should be thus informed.

Most importantly, consideration should be given to the possible long term impact that it would have on the healthcare system of Sri Lanka as a result of the producing substandard medical and allied health sciences as graduates.

Another current problem

Another current problem pertaining to lack of cooperation and coordination is that the Ministry of Health is not releasing doctors who have been chosen for academic posts in the Faculties of Medicine.

We earnestly request

We earnestly request you therefore to immediately review the course that have already been implemented and take necessary steps to 'put them right' before my more batches of students are admitted to any of these course or any new courses are commenced.

We feel that this has become an issue of national importance that requires your urgent attention.

Making peace with your heart

Ganga Pradeepa

Unilever Sri Lanka, through its brand Flora, working with the Sri Lanka Heart Association (SLHA) will launch an awareness programme to promote heart healthy living.

The programme, which concentrates on a preventive lifestyle, will kick off with an event planned for the World Heart Day on the September 30 themed "Make peace with your heart".

Capital Maharaja has joined Unilever and SLHA in this event by becoming the media sponsor. "Working with Sri Lanka Heart Association is the first step in Unilever mission, through its spread brand Flora, to educate the community on leading a heart healthy lifestyle," Surith Perera, Unilever's Marketing Director Foods stated.

Daily 10 people die of heart related disease of which at least seven contact the ailment due to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Saumya Perera, Brand Manager for Flora said, "Flora globally champions healthy hearts and helps people feel optimistic about life. It provides a stage for people to make informed choices to get the most out of life and give them the confidence that they have the power to do amazing things because they are heart healthy."

Dr. Rohan Gunawardane, Coordinator for World Heart Day, SLHA said, "Ischemic Heart disease, which have become the biggest cause of death are either preventable or can be controlled. With this in mind the Sri Lanka Heart Association, with the backing of Flora and MTV, is launching a programme to crest public awareness regarding the prevention of heart disease.

The USL, SLHA and Maharaja Heart Event which will start with a short health walk on World Heart Day will culminate in a Heart Lifestyle Fair which will enable participants to interactively learn about 'how to live a preventive lifestyle'.

This will feature all the elements required for a healthy lifestyle and will offer participants free heart health checks, heart tips and education sessions by renowned doctors.

The fair grounds will host a range of interesting stalls showcasing gym equipment and the proper use of exercise machines, health foods, easy to fix health food recipes and a several activities related to keeping the healthy heart of the entire family in a fun environment.

Bilingualism delay onset of dementia

I refer to the article of Edward Amarasena, which was compiled and coordinated by him dated 18, August. Readers have been requested to send their views on this. Fulfilling your Medical Advisory panel's request, I thought of writing my own experience which I have got practically.

You have clearly exposed, that speaking two languages throughout the life may delay the onset of dementia, compared with speaking only one language. Bilingualism focuses on Psycholinguistics, social, and educational aspects of a language. From my practical viewpoint, It should be balanced bilingualism.

Though my mother tongue is Sinhala, I have been conversing in English and Sinhala since my childhood.I am used to speak in English, If I come across an educated person.

Sometimes it is rare to find a government officer who converse in English. Even If I talk with them, they think that I am a follower of Anglicism. Regarding that I am fairly frustrated. Despite the fact that, I try to speak with somebody at least an hour per day. Actually it gives me a pleasure.

Having read your article, I realized that balanced bilingualism is an asset. As I am not perfect in Tamil, I use English and Sinhala.

Finally I would like to tell you, that there is a truth in this language therapy remedy.

T.H.S. Hettige,
Kuliyapitiya.

Dummies combat SIDS

Following evidence that dummies given to new born babies when they sleep reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Deaths (SIDS). Health authorities in USA are advising parents to give a dummy to a baby when they sleep.

The American Academy of Paediatrics, who carried out the review of the evidence on this trial that had been carried out in the States have recommended adopting this method in saving babies from dying by SIDS. They however caution breast feeding mothers from trying this method until the baby is one month old, and also not force a baby to take it if they show reluctance to it.

UK experts have also recommended parents to adopt this technique to save infant deaths from SIDS. It is reported that researchers in California have found that this dummy method could dump infant deaths by SIDS by 90%.

Dr. Dennis J. Aloysius

National Policy on Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases - out soon A policy drafted on this at a three-day workshop held in Colombo from 11th to 13th July this year is to be finalised soon.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the WHO.

Health Ministry sources said all stake holders including Health officials and representatives from the SLMA, and other professional colleges and experts from the WHO had helped in drafting this policy.