Bhathiya Barukanda
Two Medical (Amendment) Bills were passed in Parliament today (Aug. 08) with amendments. The Second Reading debate on these two Bills was held today from 10.30 am, where the Members of Parliament addressed the importance of passing the said Bills. At the end of the debate, amendments were presented to the Bills during the Committee Stage, and thereafter the two Bills were passed with amendments, without a vote.
The two Medical (Amendment) Bills, which aimed to amend the sections of the Medical Ordinance Act, were presented to the Parliament by the Minister of Health on the 02nd of July.
Minister of Health Dr. Ramesh Pathirana who referred to the Bill said it will enable Sri Lanka to recognize foreign medical colleges which enjoy slots in the global rankings. We shall be recognizing first 1000 medical colleges in the global ranking,” he said.
“There are around 300 Sri Lankan doctors who have qualified from foreign medical colleges. They are unable to work in Sri Lanka as our country does not recognize the medical colleges from which they are qualified. This new Bill will enable them to work in Sri Lanka as Sri Lanka will be recognizing the universities which they have qualified from. This will also help us to provide us an opportunity to find a solution to the dearth of specialist doctors including surgeons, pediatricians and psychiatrists,” Minister added.
