By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has challenged Health Minister and co-cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne’s recent declaration that the SAITM (South Asian Institute of technology and Medicine), Malabe, won’t be nationalized under any circumstances.

Responding to Dr Senaratne, newly elected GMOA Secretary Harith Alutge emphasised that remedial measures taken to resolve SAITM crisis should lead to its nationalisation.

While Dr. Senaratne has declared that the government wouldn’t talk with the GMOA in this regard, the GMOA reiterated its unwavering commitment to a five-point joint proposal made by the Deans and teachers of the state medical faculties and the GMOA to resolve the crisis.

GMOA proposals

The proposal comprises (1) gazetting of minimum standards of medical education and legalizing technical report of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (2) Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella should inform court that the SAITM has not received SLMC approval (3) suspension of SAITM enrolment (4) suspension of awarding degrees and (5) setting up a committee to address the grievances of those studying there subject to SLMC approval.

Dr. Senaratne announced the suspension of talks with the GMOA in the wake of a meeting between a delegation of doctors led by its President Dr. Anurudda Padeniya and President Maithripala Sirisena on the morning of June 24 at the latter’s official residence. Both Dr. Senaratne as well as the SLFP and the UNP played down that powwow on the basis it was a private meeting. A former confidant of UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa and UNP National List MP Arshu Marasinghe asserted that Sirisena hadn’t met the GMOA in his capacity as the President.

Dr. Senaratne went to the extent of questioning the validity of a statement issued by the then Secretary to the President P. B. Abeykoon following the meeting. The GMOA has been accused of clandestinely meeting President, privately, to seek a way out of the crisis created by it.

Asked whether the GMOA had been under pressure to reach an understanding with President Sirisena, Dr. Padeniya emphasised that the meeting was called by the President’s Office. Padenya said: “An official set the meet on behalf of President Sirisena. I received the calls on behalf of the GMOA. Of course, Dr. Senaratne can easily verify this with the President.”

Padeniya alleged that an influential section within the government was interfering with President Sirisena’s responsibility. Had President Sirisena met the GMOA clandestinely, why on earth did Abeykoon issue a statement which received wide coverage on both public and private media? Padeniya asked.

The Island like other print and electronic media institutions must have also received the email from President’s Media regarding Saturday’s meeting, Dr. Padeniya said.

Padeniya denied allegations that he had been playing politics with the SAITM issue at the expense of those studying there and in the process undermined yahapalana administration. President Sirisena should be way from those around him, Dr. Padeniya said, alleging that an obvious attempt was being made to manipulate President Sirisena regarding the SAITM issue. “The possibility of President Sirisena facing a similar situation as regards other crucial matters such as constitutional reforms can not be ruled out”, he said.

Prof. Fonseka on SAITM standards

In the wake of the SAITM battle, the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) last week reiterated its warning against what it called misleading advertisements and advertorials in the print and electronic media meant to attract students to local and foreign medical and dental schools. The latest warning was given ahead of SLMC head Prof. Carlo Fonseka relinquishing his duties last Friday on the completion of his term including a six-month extension given by President Sirisena.

Addressing the media outside the SLMC office, Prof. Fonseka said the SLMC would continue to follow its current stand pertaining to the SAITM. Asked whether the SAITM should exist Prof. Fonseka stressed that they always talked about standards not closure of the institution. Declaring that SAITM students had been so far denied recognition on the basis of standards, Prof. Fonseka said that the decision could be taken following a fresh examination. Prof. Fonseka stressed that SAITM students grievances, too, should be addressed.

Prof. Fonseka asserted that the SAITM had been made a major issue by the media before concluding his remarks.

Prof. Fonseka received his appointment from the then Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena in 2012.

Takeover of Asha Central

Against the backdrop of the government and the GMOA hardening their positions it would be pertinent to examine the launch of SAITM project during the previous administration.

At the time of Dr. Neville Fernando launched the project in 2008 he hadn’t obtained a bank loan, a spokesperson for the board of directors told The Island.

Dr. Fernando, who had served the UNP and the SLFP as a member of parliament for two terms, 1977-1982 and 1989-2004, respectively, acquired Asha Central Hospital in 1998 from Sony Siedles proprietor Moraji Udeshi. Having revived the hospital, Dr. Fernando sold it to Asoka Pathirage, proprietor of Asiri Hospital in 2007 in the wake of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) prohibiting further improvements with new elevations. Funds received from the sale of Asha Central were invested in the SAITM project the following year, the spokesperson said in response to another query. Pathirage named it Asiri Central Hospital.

Dr. Neville Fernando-led 11 member board of directors includes his wife Swarnamali Fernando, three sons, Dr Devaka Fernando, Dr. Krishantha Fernando, Naomal Fernando, daughter, Sharmalee Jayatilake son-in-law cardiologist Mohan Jayatilake (non executive), granddaughter Himali Jayatilake. Non-family members include two more doctors, Dr. Ranjith Cabraal and Dr. Sameera Senaratne and counsel Mrs Manoli Jinadasa (non-executive). However, non-family board member Dr. Sameera Senaratne, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of SAITM and Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital has been sent on long leave pending ongoing investigations into him allegedly staging a firearms attack on his car on the night of Feb 2, 2017 at Mulleriyawa. The SAITM management announced the suspension on Feb 28, 2017 in the wake of shocking revelation that Dr. Sameera staged the ‘incident’ with some underworld elements.

Dr. Fernando’s CIMA qualified and Jayawardenepura management graduate grand daughter, Himali functions as the Deputy Chairperson of the SAITM.

The spokesperson denied SAITM involvement in the incident.

Dr. Neville Fernando has been engaged in various ventures, including printing, tissue culture and ceramics but since the launch of SAITM in 2008 he is fully involved in it.

Initially, there were engineering, management, IT and communication faculties and subsequently medicine and also in line with company regulations the ‘management’ had been changed to ‘medicine’ in 2009, the spokesperson said.

At the beginning it was South Asian Institute of Technology and Management which later changed to South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine.

In an interview with The Island, Dr. Neville Fernando explained that the first batch comprising 25 students for medicine had been enrolled in Aug 2009. The second batch had faced two interview boards with the second being the University Grants Commission (UGC), Dr. Fernando said, stressing that the admissions were subject to UGC approval. “There cannot be any issue as regards the admissions,” the former politician said.

The change over from management to medicine in 2009 had been approved by the Board of Investment (BOI), Dr Fernando said, adding that there had been opposition from the GMOA or any other trade union or the student community.

State medical faculties can accommodate about 1,200 students annually though the actual number of those who obtained required results to enter universities is much higher.

Govt-SAITM pact on clinical training

According to Dr. Fernando, trouble erupted in 2011 in the wake of the government allocating the Homagama hospital for SAITM students to undergo clinical training. The government and the SAITM reached an agreement in April 2011 under which the latter was to invest Rs. 200 mn to develop Homagama as a Teaching Hospital. Alleging that the GMOA sabotaged the agreement meant to ensure proper and sufficient clinical training to SAITM students, Dr. Fernando said that his primary intention was to give an opportunity to those who couldn’t enter state universities due to lack of space. “I don’t have to explain how Z score deprived so many deserving students,” Dr. Fernando said, alleging that if the GMOA had not thwarted government-SAITH agreement on Homagama hospital, the Malabe private medical college wouldn’t have been an issue today.

Dr. Fernando pointed out that those who had been properly selected in accordance with UGC criterion were unfairly denied the opportunity to receive clinical training at a government hospital in spite of SAITM agreeing to invest Rs 200 mn to develop that hospital.

The then Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake in late Aug 2011 recognized SAITM as a degree awarding institute in terms of section 25 (A) of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978. Maithripala Sirisena had held the health portfolio at that time.

Having failed to resolve the problem, the SAITM, following consultations with the Rajapaksa government obtained Rs 2 bn loan from the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) in 2011 to build a hospital of its own. In accordance with the agreement, the SAITM was to repay the loan within ten years, Dr. Fernando said, adding that undoubtedly the hospital with over one acre of floor area with 1002 bed capacity met the highest standards.

In spite of substantial BoC investment, the SAITM board of directors doesn’t include a representative from the bank.

“The UGC wanted to make 700 beds available for the public. We provide a quality service though charges are comparatively low.”

Dr. Fernando said that his hospital had attracted about 100 patients a day in spite of various lies propagated by those seeking to sabotage the project.

He said the SAITM medicine course was on par with that of the Colombo medical faculty. “MBBS is a traditional programme under benchmark statement of the UGC.”

SAITM ready to give up control

Asked whether the demand to stop awarding of degrees was acceptable, Dr. Fernando said the matter was now before the Supreme Court.

As the apex court had allocated July 5 and 6 to decide on the status of SAITM consequent to an MBBS graduate of SAITM Dhilmi Kasunda Malshani Suriyarachchi securing Court of Appeal ruling in January this year that enabled her to register at the SLMC as a medical practitioner in accordance with the Medical Ordinance.

The SAITM proprietor asserted that it would have been better if all stakeholders to the dispute delayed announcement of various solutions until the Supreme Court ruling.

Dr. Fernando acknowledged that the SAITM hadn’t been able to convince the GMOA and other trade unions to discuss the issues with the management. There couldn’t be any problem in GMOA having discussions with SAITM Professors and other academics, Dr. Fernando, said, pointing out even the SLMC visited SAITM only once. The SAITM chief pointed out the SLMC had granted registration to foreign medical institutions after visiting them one time or in some cases even without visiting them. Had they been so concerned, the SLMC could have visited them several times, he said.

Asked whether government proposals meant to settle the crisis were acceptable to them, Dr. Fernando said that they were engaged in discussions. “Certainly, we are agreeable to run our hospital like Sri Jayewardenepura hospital with fee paid sections and also to broad base the SAITM management by listing it in the stock market.” Dr. Fernando said, adding that he didn’t have any problem in the government taking 51 per cent of the venture.

The SAITM Chairman said that one of his primary intention was enable the SAITM students to receive clinical experience.

Responding to another query, Dr. Fernando emphasised that SAITM students shouldn’t suffer due to the GMOA’s intransigence and rival JVP factions flexing their muscles in a bid to dupe the student community. The former UNP MP explained the battle waged by the JVP and its offshoot the Front line Socialist Party (FSP) to gain control of the student community against the backdrop of the latter having influence over the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF). Dr. Fernando alleged that the GMOA was conducting anti-SAITM operation with the support of JVP factions.

Dr. Fernando said three SAITM batches had passed out with excellent results with honours and nearly 1,000 students were still undergoing training.

Dr. Fernando denied allegations that students with arts and commerce qualifications were among the SAITM student community.

Asked whether former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had requested SAITM to accommodate qualified deserving students, Dr. Fernando said that the majority of those who were recommended by the former President did really well. The former President had intervened on behalf of eleven students who had failed to enter state universities as in that year two GCE A/L examinations had been held and a dispute over the Z-score rankings had ensued. “All of them were given scholarships,” Dr. Fernando said, adding that altogether scholarships worth Rs. 550 mn were given to approximately 200 students.

SAITM charges Rs. 9 mn from each student.

SAITM chief admitted that even if the stakeholders to the issue agreed on a formula that would pave the way for the government to take control, the repayment of the BoC loan would be the responsibility of the SAITM.

Dr. Fernando stressed that cash-strapped government spent about nine million on a medical student and SAITM had brought immense relief to the national economy.

Dr Neville Fdo on SLMC second report

Responding to another query, Dr. Fernando pointed out those who had been campaigning against the SAITM had conveniently forgotten Prof. Fonseka’s predecessor had wanted entire training to be conducted in Sri Lanka and required funds committed to establish facilities for clinical training on the basis that clinical training here was much more relevant than anywhere else. “We were assured that subject to SAITM fulfilling above instructions, those qualifying from the institute wouldn’t have to sit ERPM examination.”

Dr. Fernando alleged that the problem had been caused by the SLMC’s controversial decision to drop its own recommendations made following 2014 comprehensive review of the SAITM. The recommendations made by nine out of ten members of the Review Committee led by Prof. Rezvi Sheriff had included training in forensic medicine and public health in addition to clinical training in major clinical disciplines in government hospitals. The Sheriff Committee recommended a six month programme for SAITM students and for the SLMC to conduct clinical examination thereafter.

Dr. Fernando said the Dr Sheriff Committee report had been shelved on the basis of a report prepared subsequently by a member of the review team who did not participate in the original process. In spite of some members of the review team as well as university academics opposing the move, the SLMC had adopted the second report.

Courtesy:The Island