SAITM is abolished. Hence the fight against fraud has
succeeded, however the culprits will not be punished as it appears; which is
the Sri Lankan style anyway. But let’s leave the punishment to the nature and
celebrate the victory against fraud.
SAITM fight had two slogans, “Abolish SAITM” and “NO PMC”. During
this fight, it was agreed that the implementation of the deans’ proposals would
be considered the end point or the success. The points were,
1.
Admission of students to SAITM to be terminated permanently.
2.
SAITM students enrolled before 2016, with
minimum entry criteria (2Cs 1S), to be allowed to complete MBBS with additional
training and licencing examination.
3.
The details to implement 2 above to be decided
by an Interim Independent Authority (IIA) under purview of SLMC and the IIA to
be dissolved when the SAITM students passed out.
4.
Above 1-3 to be approved in parliament and to be
published in gazette notification.
What did Dr. Harsha De Silva’s solutions that we agreed ,
1.
Admission of students to SAITM to be terminated permanently.
2.
All assets, students etc of SAITM to be transferred
to a non governmental (PMC), not of profit entity, that will have a sun set
clause after the SAITM students passed out (The way this is worded in FB
creates some confusion, however FFMTA confirms this stance was approved in the latest
committee meeting too).
3.
A presidential committee to arrange 1 & 2
and to complete everything by 31st December 2017.
4.
Government policy is non governmental not for
profit medical education but is not related to Abolishing SAITM. ie, what ever
that is to come is not an outcome of this process.
Except the gazette in the deans’ proposals, all other
aspects are covered in the agreed proposals. However, the stance of NO PMC is
at threat, but we need not panic YET, because whatever comes off in abolishing
SAITM is ONLY for SAITM students. PMCs to come are different entities as told. If
the government policy is PMC and we are against that, the way would be to
topple the government and get a new one whose policy is NO PMC, which I think
should be a good debate in the 2 years to come before the next general
elections. Considering the mess this government is in already, if I was in it,
would not bother to create a new mess with more PMCs sooner, but considering
the mindset of the politicians, they may still attempt it.
The issue is, ideally, I would have loved to celebrate a
victory, like in NCMC, where we win a state medical faculty, so that the so
called “just missed the z score cut off” can jolly well be doctors irrespective
of their financial capacity. But it has not happened yet. With the allocation
of funds to establish 3 more state medical faculties in the recent budget 2018,
there is a high chance of this entity to the SAITM graduates to end as one of
them, but that is only if the SAITM graduates are fortunate enough. I feel
pretty sorry of these SAITM students. They are being used by the government to
ensure their policy of PMC. Now SAITM is abolished. The graduates of
MBBS(SAITM) are lost. They have graduated from a place that is to be abolished.
Even the other lot, will be taken to an entity which is beyond my imagination.
Non state , non profit, and only for 5 years and then get dissolved. Unless a
big donor is willing, this process will be dragging. And the medical students
and the other parties will be closely monitoring the process which is to
happen, and the SAITM students might again get trapped in a new entity like
SAITM itself. I am hopeful for these SAITM students that they would be lucky
enough to find this non Nevil Fernando related donor, who would invest for
these disadvantaged students expecting no profit and to close down the
investment in 5 years. To me this is bit impossible, unless a betrayal like the
continuation of the new entity after SAITM students complete the degree happen,
which is again a breach of trust of the student movement, that the government
would not be happy with the elections to come, from Provincial elections in
January. None of such issues shall arise if this is a state medical faculty. In
such case, no sun set clause would be demanded, and since the hospitals,
locations etc all are planned, as to UGC chairman, the structure can easily be
set with no resistance. That ensures quick progression. At the same time, as a
sunset clause may not be demanded, whatever the MBBS to be given will have a
place with in brackets that would last for long time. Eg:
MBBS(Moratuwa)/MBBS(Wayamba)/MBBS(Sabaragamuwa). In fact, just like NCMC graduates
demanded MBBS (Colombo), it is time the SAITM graduates demand one of MBBS(Moratuwa)/MBBS(Wayamba)/MBBS(Sabaragamuwa),
which the state students are also willing to agree. However, it is not the duty
of state medical students. Considering the intelligence displayed by applying
to this outright fraud; to be abolished SAITM, I do not expect SAITM students
to fight for a MBBS (known place) over MBBS(previously abolished and offered by
an institute that is to be ceased in 5 years).
I personally love this intermediate victory of the medical
students and the student movement. Because, SAITM was not a fight they should
have done by them in first place. It was a fight to be done by the academics to
ensure proper standards of medical education from fraudulent businessman. But
what happened was, academics were inert or less active initially hence the
student movement had to step in as protecting free education is their top priority.
What some academics actually did was help to defend this outright fraud. Some
earned black money from this fraudulent place, by employing there on sabbatical
leave or by permanently leaving the state faculties. They let SAITM become a
menace, and in the process, did not forget to criticize the student actions. It
was only the SLMC that had the backbone to stand on it’s prime target of
maintaining standards, which cost them the resignation of 2 presidents, bombing,
appointment of political presidents for advantage etc. But when all other measures
against fraud failed, the students unfortunately had to start the boycott of
lectures, and suddenly everyone became so compassionate and considerate about
the future of the students with motherly love; not because their administrative
positions were threatened. At this point of time, when the medical students had
to boycott lectures over 10 months to abolish this fraud business, now those
who were so compassionate and considerate have got the ideal opportunity to
ensure this devastation will not happen to the students in future, by ensuring
that the agreed solutions are implemented as it is agreed. We shall await to
see if the outcome of them would be of pure motherly love to the students or
with pure love to the administrative positions by pleasing politicians. Hence,
I love the temporary end of the battle chosen by students.
SAITM dragged over 7 years of my life 2011-2018, to win in
this level, and to ensure victory, the sun set mechanism shall end in 5-6 years,
hence will be on the watch over the time. It was a period that taught many
lessons.
Most importantly, however big and powerful the opponent is,
the unity and determination with dedication and commitment can take you close
to the victory. Also, it was a lesson that, however big and reputed some are claimed
to be, or some think they are; their actions are the best reflection of their
character. Hence, the validity of an idea shall not be based on the number of
letters at the end of a name. For example, a surgeon shall be very good at the
sub speciality trained, but can have very poor logic and understanding of
matters other than surgery, because those are not the fields of their expertise.
We need not worry much of them, as long as we genuinely know, what we are doing
is right. I also learnt that although you focus on topics of your interest, for
eg. Say gender equity – you fail to realize the word equity is not limited to
gender. Unless the root causes like poverty, inequity in education, social
imbalance etc are solved, gender inequity cannot be reduced. Hence ensuring
equity in education would be an essential component in combating gender
inequity and hopefully the women’s activists will ensure equity in education at
least in that regard. As far as I am aware, gender equity is not forcefully invading
the habitats of the opposite gender and such action is exploitation of the
concept of gender equity.
When it comes to pre-interns, who were considered a lot that
never can be organized for an effective action, even the top guns in
profession; consultants, failed to stop them from joining together and showing
the brotherhood by taking the best level of action possible at the right time
towards a social cause irrespective of the bad outcome to their own careers.
This brotherhood was a huge achievement and a proof that as long as we are
together, even the pre-interns, or interns can do many things. This lesson
would be much important for future.
At a personal level, it was evident to me, with this
development of social media, the news of our lives is not in our control.
People can make stories of your life and they can spread so fast and you will
never have a control in such rumours and news in your life.
The young medicos, would have sat, slept in almost every
pavement in Colombo and I am sure the social understanding that they obtained
through this adventurous journey will help them be more compassionate doctors
in near future.
The student movement
achieved what they wanted, and they would be on the watch that the agreed
solutions are implemented. NO PMC is a fight that is there to fight, and will
happen when a PMC starts again. As for me, a PMC that,
1.
Recruits students who disadvantaged by z score
ONLY
2.
With better quality
3.
Doesn’t consider financial status at recruitment;
ie, students can study without paying and later pay once they have passed out
4.
Doesn’t affect the health care system and the
other existing state medical faculties – ie, equal salary scales for academic
and other facilities, doesn’t recruit those on sabbatical leave or those
occupied in a state medical faculty. The PMC should be set as per needs of the
health care, ie, location shall not be just in the towns like Colombo, Kandy,
Galle etc.
5.
Doesn’t use state property for private usage:
ie, a separate private hospital to be maintained. No state hospitals for PMCs.
Would be accepted if the government is desperate for a PMC.
But SAITM proved the level to which things can go when PMCs start in Sri Lanka
and how chaotic and impossible to maintain standards due to this political
madness in the country. Hence for a country like Sri Lanka, which is to set up
3 more state medical faculties as to the budget 2018, would not need a PMC, considering
the need of doctors in future and the impossibility of providing training to undergraduates
by the private sector to meet the required standards. Anyway, those are battles
to face, and I am sure since those who are so much concerned of the lives of
medical students are now in the authority, they would ensure that medical
students will not have to get to streets again to ensure standards and fight against
fraud. So, let’s keep watch.
And for the brave medicos, let’s keep in mind this selfless
sacrifice you made towards the general public; although they may not be aware.
With the same spirit, make sure that in the careers to come, we would
selflessly strive towards improvement of healthcare in the individual and the community
in future. So, let’s resume the mammoth but rewarding task of completing MBBS,
and we are awaiting to see those long queues in the canteen and the fully
crowded sofas during lunch hour at the faculty soon.
Best Wishes !!!
