1. Sri Lanka Medical Council
Dr. Ravi Nanayakkara

2. ADDRESS OF THE SRI LANKA MEDICAL COUNCIL
SLMC Office. 31, Norris Canal Road , Colombo 10.
Tel:  Fax :

3. Logo of SLMC

4. OBJECTIVES Describe the organizational structure
Describe the powers and duties
Discuss the types of disciplinary procedure that can be taken by the SLMC.

5. SLMC
“The Sri Lanka Medical Council shall be a body corporate by the name and style of “The Sri Lanka Medical Council” having perpetual succession, and a common seal with power to sue and be sued in such name and to acquire and hold property…….”
- Medical Ordinance (Section 12)

6. The SRI LANKA MEDICAL COUNCIL is a statutory body established for the purpose of protecting health care seekers by ensuring the maintenance of academic and professional standards, discipline and ethical practice by health professionals who are registered with it.  As presently constituted the Council has representation from medical faculties of the state universities as well as from professionals in the state and private sector.  It is a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal.

7. History
The Colombo Medical College was declared open on 1st June 1870 and the diploma of the college, Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery (L.M.S.) was registrable with the General Medical Council (U.K.) without further examinations.

8. Since 1905 registration of Medical Practitioners was done by the Ceylon Medical College Council.

9. The Ceylon Medical Council (CMC) was established by the Medical Council Ordinance No. 24 of 1924

10. The “Sri Lanka Medical Council” was established by the Medical (Amendment) Act No. 40 of 1998 when the title was substituted for the “Ceylon Medical Council”.

11. Powers of Ceylon Medical College Council
Confer the diploma L.M.S (Ceylon)
Register persons who had L.M.S. (Ceylon)
Register persons with other degrees and diplomas awarded by countries which recognized the L.M.S. (Ceylon).

12. Establishment of SLMC
In 1924 the functions of the Ceylon Medical College Council was separated for training of personnel and a Council for Registration was established.
Ceylon Medical Council 1924
Sri Lanka Medical council 1998

13. Need of SLMC
The need for a Medical Council in Ceylon/ Sri Lanka followed the practice in U.K., Australia and Canada.
The General Medical Council (G.M.C.) was established by the Medical Act in 1858.

14. SLMC…..
In 1927 – registration of Pharmacists, which included Apothecaries and Estate Apothecaries.
1949 – Nurses were registered
1987 – Registration of Para-medical assistants
Professions supplementary to medicine

15. Powers of the Council
The Medical (Amendment) Act No. 30 of 1987 makes provision for the Council to enter and make inquiries at recognized universities and institutions to ascertain whether the courses of study, the degree of proficiency at examinations conducted for conferment of qualifications and staff, equipment and facilities provided at such universities and institutions conform to prescribed standards.
If they fail to conform to prescribed standards, the council may recommend to the Minister to withdraw such recognition.

16. Activities or Functions of the SLMC
Maintenance of Registers
i. Medical Practitioners:
Provisional Registration for internship
Registration as Medical Practitioners (Full Registration)
Temporary Registration – for persons employed as Medical Officers
ii. Dentists
iii. Persons entitled to practice medicine
and surgery (Apothecaries/ Assistant
Medical practitioners)

17. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd…
iv. Midwives
v. Pharmacists
vi. Nurses
vii. Professions Supplementary to
Medicine
Radiographers
Medical Laboratory Technicians
Physiotherapists
Occupational Therapists

18. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd…
vii. Para-Medical Assistants
Electrocardiograph Recordists
Audiologists
Clinical Physiologists
Speech Therapists
Chiropodists
Dieticians
Ophthalmic Auxiliaries
Electroencephalograph recordists
Nutritionists
Clinical Psychologists

19. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd…
Change of Name in the Register
Registration of Additional Qualifications
Issue of a Certified Extract from the Register
Restoration of name in a register
Replying to inquiries regarding registration
Issue of Identity Cards
Registration of Apprentice Pharmacists

20. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd…
Maintain the standards of medical education visit medical schools to supervise the standards
Approval of Degrees of Foreign Medical & Dental Graduates
Conducting the Special Exam for Foreign Medical & Dental Graduates for local registration
Issue of certificate of completion of Special Exam
Advice the Government on certain health matters

21. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd…
Inquiry into complaints against registered persons
Renewal of Registration
Maintenance of Council Accounts

22. Activities or Functions of the SLMC contd…
Issuing Guidelines to registered persons
i. Ethical Guidelines to Medical
Practitioners & Dentists
ii. Guidelines to Interns
iii. Writing Medical & Death Certificates
iv. Guidelines on Assisted
Reproductive Technologies

23. Composition of the SLMC
President – Nominated by the Minister of Health
One member elected by teachers of each faculty of medicine
Eight members elected by medical practitioners registered under
Section 29
One member elected by persons entitled to practice medicine &
surgery under Section 41 (Apothecaries/A.M.Ps)
One member elected by Dentist registered under Section
One member elected by teachers of each faculty of dental sciences 1
Four members nominated by the Minister of Health, at least two of
whom should not be receiving a Government salary or pension 4
The Director General of Health Services

24. Disciplinary proceedings
When a petition made against a doctor or courts report a case
Two committee levels
1. Preliminary Proceeding Committee(PPC)
Five members- Vice President(Chairman)
2.Professional Conduct Committee(PCC)
Eleven members- President(Chairman)

25. Disciplinary proceedings
PPC will inquire any complaint referred to the president and decides whether the case should be referred to PCC
PCC conducts extensive inquiry on the cases
The parties can represent through lawyers
Warned to erasure of the name

26. The procedure for disciplinary inquiries currently applicable was published in the Government Gazette No. 757/7 of March 10, 1993.

27. Reasons for erasure When registration obtained without qualification
Conviction of an offence (criminal)
Failure to reply letters (renewal of registration)
Professional negligence
Submitting false medical certificates
Abuse of doctors privileges- addiction, sale of additive drugs, breach of professional secrecy

28. Reasons for erasure cntd..
Association with unqualified persons
Abortion (esp. deaths)
Adultery
Alcoholism

29. Registration as a doctor
Procedure for the full registration
Hold a recognized medical degree
Foreign graduates–passed special exam
Completion the internship period

30. Rights and privileges of provisional registration
Can be only employed in government hospital
Can issue medical certificates under the name of the institution/consultant
Can use the tile of doctor
Can recover an allowance (No salary)

31. Rights and privileges of full registration
Can practice medicine and surgery in Sri Lanka
Can demand and recover reasonable charges
Issue medical certificates under the name
Use title of doctor
Qualified to sign certain documents (Banks, passport applications ,etc…)
Expert in the field in courts (Diseases, injuries)
Can store, prescribe narcotics

32. Temporary registration
To practice in a specific institution or private hospital
Specific discipline of medicine
Limited to a specific period

33. Hippocratic Oath
"I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius and Health, and all-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation-to reckon him who taught this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this Art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture or every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to non other. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patients and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.

34. I will not cut persons labouring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and further, from seduction of females or males of freeman or slaves. Whatever in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken abroad, I will not divulge as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I keep this Oath inviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be by lot."
A modem restatement of the Hippocratic oath, known as the International Code of Medical Ethics or the Declaration of Geneva was produced by the World Medical Association. It reads as follows:
At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:

35. I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to the service of
Humanity; I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due; I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity; The health of my patients will be my first consideration; I will respect the secrets which are confided in me, even after the patient has died; I will maintain by all the means of my power, the honour and noble tradition of the medical profession; My colleagues will be my brothers; I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patients; I will maintain the utmost respect for human life from the time of conception; even under threat, I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity. I make these promises, solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

36. Thank you