Sri Lanka Medical

Council

Dr. Ravi Nanayakkara

 ADDRESS OF THE SRI LANKA
MEDICAL COUNCIL

SLMC Office.
31, Norris Canal Road ,
Colombo 10.
Tel:- 2691848 Fax :- 2674787
E-mail : slmc@lankabellnet.com
www.srilankamedicalcouncil.org
www.slmedc.lk
Logo of SLMC
OBJECTIVES

Describe the organizational structure

Describe the powers and duties
Discuss the types of disciplinary
procedure that can be taken by the
SLMC.
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)
 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.
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.
 Since1905 registration of Medical
Practitioners was done by the Ceylon
Medical College Council.
 TheCeylon Medical Council (CMC)
was established by the Medical
Council Ordinance No. 24 of 1924
 TheSri Lanka Medical Council was
established by the Medical
(Amendment) Act No. 40 of 1998
when the title was substituted for the
Ceylon Medical Council.
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).
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
 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.
SLMC..
In1927 registration of Pharmacists,
which included Apothecaries and
Estate Apothecaries.
1949 Nurses were registered
1987 Registration of Para-medical
assistants
1998 - Professions supplementary to
medicine
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.
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)
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
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
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
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
Activities or Functions of the
SLMC
contd
Inquiry into complaints against
registered persons
Renewal of Registration
Maintenance of Council Accounts
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
 Composition of the SLMC
President Nominated by the Minister of Health
1
One member elected by teachers of each faculty of medicine
6
Eight members elected by medical practitioners registered
under 8
Section 29

One member elected by persons entitled to practice medicine

&
surgery under Section 41 (Apothecaries/A.M.Ps)
1
One member elected by Dentist registered under Section 43
1
One member elected by teachers of each faculty of dental
sciences 1
Four members nominated by the Minister of Health, at least
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)
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

 Theprocedure for disciplinary
inquiries currently applicable was
published in the Government Gazette
No. 757/7 of March 10, 1993.
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
Reasons for erasure cntd..
Association with unqualified persons
Abortion (esp. deaths)
Adultery
Alcoholism
Registration as a doctor

Procedure for the full registration

Hold a recognized medical degree

Foreign graduatespassed special
exam
Completion the internship period
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)
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
Temporary registration
To practice in a specific institution or
private hospital
Specific discipline of medicine
Limited to a specific period
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.
 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
 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.
 Thank you