Govt set to abolish Faculty of Medicine at SAITM

The Presidential Committee appointed to resolve issues related to the South Asia Institute of Technology and Medicine, has recommended to abolishing the Faculty of Medicine at SAITM.

The Government Information Department in a statement said the Committee having considered the recommendations made by numerous stakeholder groups, including the Deans of all State Universities, has recommended a set of proposals to arrive at a permanent solution in keeping with the Government Policy. The statement noted that it is a timely requirement in the spirit of democracy that all parties cooperate to ensure the implementation of the proposed solutions, to cease disruptions thus far caused to the smooth functioning of universities.

The Government Information Department said, in keeping with the principle of justice to all stakeholders, the Government hopes to implement the recommendations forwarded by the Presidential Committee. Accordingly the committee has recommended the Ministry of Health to gazette the agreed Minimum Standards for Medical Education and Training, and place before Parliament. It recommends the establishment of a new not-for-profit entity, under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and the University Grants Commission.

The Presidential Committee said the new entity will be established in a manner legally acceptable to the current shareholders, lending institutions. The new entity will take over all operations and management of SAITM on a not-for-profit basis. It said, the profit oriented entity owned and managed by Dr. Neville Fernando and family would thereby cease to exist. Accordingly the assets, liabilities, staff and students will be transferred to the proposed entity. The new entity will recognize all students currently enrolled at SAITM, who possess the required entry qualifications. The statement noted an opportunity will be provided to the students to continue medical education in the proposed new institution.

The Presidential Committee has also proposed to establish a new medical education degree awarding institute. The Government Information Department said the government is expected to appoint a Committee of high level officials to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations.

The Government is expected to conclude the entire process before the 31st of December this year.

Full Statement:

The Statement issued on the solutions proposed bv the Presidential Committee appointed bv his Excellencv Maithripala Sirisena to solve the problems arisen in the Faculty of Medicine at SAITM

The Presidential Committee to Resolve Issues Related to the Faculty of Medicine of South Asia Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM), having considered the recommendations made by numerous stakeholder groups, including the Deans of Faculties of Medicine of all State Universities, has proposed the following proposals to arrive at a permanent solution that is reasonable to all stakeholders and in keeping with Government Policy.

It is a timely requirement in the spirit of democracy that all parties cooperate to ensure the implementation of the proposed solutions, to cease disruptions thus far caused to the smooth functioning of universities and especially to provide an opportunity to students to return for education.

In keeping with the principle of justice to all stakeholders, the Government hopes to implement the following courses of action:

1. Abolishing SAITM (hereinafter SAITM means its Faculty of Medicine): This shall be done in a manner legally acceptable to the current shareholders, lending institutions and the new entity interested in taking over all operations and management of SAITM on a not-for-profit basis, thus ending the ownership and management structure of SAITM. The profit oriented entity owned and managed by Dr. Neville Fernando and family would thereby cease to exist.

2. By an agreement reached by the above parties, the assets, liabilities, staff and students of SAITM shall be transferred to a non-state, not-for-profit making (that will utilize any excess income over expenditure of the organization for development or research or scholarships, without distributing among shareholders) degree awarding entity that will comply with the Minimum Standards on Medical Education and Training (to be legislated).

3. The Government has consulted several already established non-state, not- for-profit entities with the objective of establishing the proposed not-for-

profit entity for this purpose. Detailed discussions in this regard with interested parties shall start very soon.

4. The new entity shall recognize all students currently enrolled at SAITM, who possess the required entry qualifications. Opportunity will be afforded to these students to continue medical education in the proposed new institution.

5. Issues in respect of former students who have completed their degree course at SAITM should be addressed on the advice of the Sri Lanka Medical Council, based on the determination of the Supreme Court case filed on the same. Arrangements shall be made for the said students who have completed the degree at SAITM to undergo clinical training at recommended government hospitals.

6. Admission of medical students to SAITM has been suspended by the letter issued by the Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education on September 15’h 2017. This suspension will continue. Accordingly, all new admissions shall be made to the new entity (as described in 2 above), when only complying with the Minimum Standards on Medical Education and Training (to be legislated). The Government shall cooperate on all endeavors to make available, through financial institutions, subsidized student loan schemes to eligible students from low-income families to meet the cost of tuition and fees.

7. Current shareholders of SAITM shall not participate in the ownership or management of the new entity. The cooperation of Dr. Neville Fernando and family is extremely important ln this regard.

8. The Ministry of Health shall gazette and place before Parliament the agreed Minimum Standards for Medical Education and Training based on the Draft submitted by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), upon conclusion of discussions with the SLMC, the Hon. Attorney General and other relevant stakeholders. This task must be mandatorily completed within one month from today.

The chronology of implementing the mentioned solutions shall be, as follows:

i. Ministry of Health to gazette the agreed Minimum Standards for Medical Education and Training, and place before Parliament,

ii. SAITM, the selected party and lending institutions to reach agreement on the transfer of assets, liabilities, staff and students to the proposed not-for-profit entity.

iii. Establish the new entity, under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and the University Grants Commission.

iv. Abolishing SAITM: Transfer assets, liabilities, staff and students of SAITM to the new entity.

v. Establishment of new not-for-profit medical education degree awarding institute.

It is expected to immediately appoint a Commiffee of high level officials to coordinate the implementation of the above measures. This entire process shall be mandatorily completed by December 31stt 2017.

Director General of Information.