SAITM’s Fake Medical Degrees
By Nirmala Kannangara
SAITM Campus and Dr. Sameera Senaratne
The Private Medical College (PMC) in Malabe – the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine’s (SAITM) failure to provide clinical training for its students have not only irked the parents/ students but it is also criminally liable for deceiving parents.
Established in 2009, SAITM through newspaper advertisements called for applications from prospective students to obtain a foreign medical degree promising a MD (Russia) after successful completion.
Although they stated that SAITM is the off shore Campus of Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy (NNSMA) of the Russian Federation, the Medical Ordinance does not permit the existence of offshore campuses for foreign medical schools for the purpose of conferring a foreign medical degree in Sri Lanka.
However, Director SAITM Dr. Sameera Senaratne refers to SAITM as the Sri Lanka campus of NNSMA where students have been given the opportunity to obtain a prestigious medical degree in Sri Lanka from a reputed Russian state university confirming the foreign degree after successfully completing the first four years in Sri Lanka and the fifth year at NNSMA Russia.
SAITM, meanwhile, promised clinical training in government hospitals although no clinical training in government hospitals has been permitted so far.
It is also learnt that the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s decision to give its recognition only to the fifth batch onwards was to ensure that these students have the necessary qualifications to follow the medical course.
“We have found out that this institution has enrolled students who do not have enough qualifications to follow a medical course. That is why the UGC imposed certain guidelines for SAITM. From the fifth batch SAITM has to enroll only students who have the necessary qualifications,” the UGC confirmed to The Sunday Leader.
Speaking on condition of anonymity a leading medical doctor, who too enrolled his son at SAITM, has taken his son out from SAITM. He told The Sunday Leader that he did not want his son to continue at SAITM, which is not recognized by the SLMC (Sri Lanka Medical College).
When asked as to why he failed to check whether this university is recognised by the SLMC and UGC before his son was enrolled, he said that he was not aware that the SLMC does not recognise twin programmes.
“There are many countries that award degrees where the students study in more than two countries. It was too late when I understood that the SLMC would not give its recognition for twin programme courses and that was why I immediately sent my son to a foreign university without wasting more time at SAITM,” he added.
However, he complimented SAITM for giving his son a good education during the first year.
“My son studied for one year and three months at SAITM and received a good education during the first year. Although he once again had to start from the beginning at his present university, he was told that he will be promoted to the second year, since he has scored more than 80 marks for each paper and the gap between the first and second is more than 40 percent. This was because of the good lectures at SAITM,” he said.
He also said that he is not against Private Medical Colleges in the country but added that these medical faculties should get all the required facilities before enrolling students.
He further said that it was not professional for this PMC to deceive parents and students by promising clinical training in government hospitals.
“In the paper advertisements they clearly said that they have SLMC recognition and the students would receive clinical training in government hospitals. They have put the innocent students in jeopardy,” he added.
The doctor father also said that he has written to SAITM asking them to refund his money which he paid in advance. He says he will initiate legal action if his money is not refunded. “Although my son studied for three to four months in his second year, I have paid the second year course fee in advance. I sent a letter to SAITM two weeks ago requesting them to refund the money. I will give them a few more weeks and if they fail to refund the money I will initiate legal action,” he said.
Meanwhile, yet another parent whose child is still studying at SAITM told The Sunday Leader on the basis of anonymity that they have been told that any questions with regard to administration issues are not relevant for the parents.
According to him, the UGC’s decision to recognise the new entrants was to ensure that these students have the necessary qualification to follow the medical course.
“Whenever we raise questions with regard to SLMC and UGC recognition which have caused us pain of mind, there are many instances when Dr. Senaratne has shouted at us. He says that it is not relevant for us but to leave it for the administrators. How can he claim that these are not relevant to parents? It is the parents who have given them money so we have a right to find out what is happening,” he said.
“By this time four students from the third batch have already left SAITM after realising that they have been misled. When we raise these questions, Dr. Senaratne (who too has studied in Russia but has not sat for Act 16 conducted by the SLMC to be recognised as a doctor in Sri Lanka), says SAITM has the Russian degree awarding status. But he has never shown the relevant documents,” he alleged.
He further stated that Director National Accreditation Agency of Russia in an email dated September 22, 2011 has notified Minister of Higher Education that the medical programme conducted at Malabe is not accredited to Russia.
“Although the SLMC has recognised the degree awarded by NNSMA for the course conducted in Russia for a six year period, they will not recognise any other twin programme conducted by the NNSMA. Therefore SAITM cannot exist as the offshore campus of NNSMA Russia,” he added.
He further said that most of the lecturers who are foreign qualified doctors have either failed the Act 16 examination or have not sat for it.
“It was the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) that first revealed this. Can these doctors who do not have sufficient knowledge to pass the Act 16 exam even after several attempts, guide our children to get through the exams? Why couldn’t SAITM employ highly qualified doctors to lecture our children?” he asked.
According to many parents, SAITM has dishonestly and fraudulently obtained millions of rupees from them making false representations.
“A criminal complaint ought to be lodged with the relevant authorities,” they said.
Meanwhile, Director SAITM, Dr. Sameera Senaratne told The Sunday Leader that SAITM is having discussions with the SLMC.
“We will get the SLMC registration very soon,” he said.
When asked as to what would happen to the students in the first four batches as they will not be recognised by the UGC, Dr. Senaratne said that there are no provisions for the UGC to exclude the first four batches.
“We have always followed UGC criteria when enrolling students,” he said.
However, Dr. Senaratne failed to give a proper answer as to when SAITM would provide clinical training for its students.
“We have spoken to many private hospitals including Nawaloka Hospitals. Very soon our request will be granted,” said Dr. Senaratne.
Director/ General Manager Nawaloka Hospitals Prof. Lal Chandrasena, when asked whether his hospital would provide clinical training to SAITM students, replied that it is not a Teaching Hospital.
“Clinical training should be given in Teaching Hospitals. Nawaloka Hospital is not a teaching hospital nor has SAITM contacted us. We cannot give clinical training for SAITM students,” Prof. Chandasena told The Sunday Leader.
UGC can’t give accreditation to medical colleges. It can be given only by the medical council which is under the health ministry. and meddling by SB or anyone else to it and the doctors would go on a strike.
this whole thing is a scam.
at first, SAITM was south Asia institute of technology and Management. and suddenly “M” became Medical.
And they didn’t and still do not have enough money to start this. The whole investment was 700 million Rs. Now they have taken a loan of 600 m. mind you this money is not just for medical faculty but for the whole campus (which has other programs).
here (http://rajameddo.blogspot.com/) it is said that Rajarata Professorial unit will alone cost 1500 m (it may not be exactly 1500m but i remember it was above 1000m). you do the math.
Doctors who are unable to pass the Act 16 examination are not recruited to government hospitals and they also cannot teach in medical schools.
SAITM appears to be mainly a business venture capitalising on the demand for medical education.
Earlier there were apothecaries who did 6 months only in russian medical schools and were awarded the MD. They were not recognised by the SLMC.
another freakin conman
We really need to be less destructive of our own, like i have said in my comment below there is a lot of potential here that can be extracted if we all work together. Sri Lanka needs to help not hinder it’s own growth; 30 years of war has done terrible things to a wonderful place with wonderful people, but with the change of fortunes that we all experienced in 2009 should be followed up by change of thinking not just by governments but also by own people.
“Dr. Senaratne (who too has studied in Russia but has not sat for Act 16 conducted by the SLMC to be recognised as a doctor in Sri Lanka)”if so plz mention him as Mr.senarathne
very good.All the donkey can start the business with corrupt politician.SB also has shares with this.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE OF THIS. THERE WERE 59 STUDENTS ENTERED BGC TRUST UNIVERSITY CHITTAGONG BANGLADESH THEN IT WAS EVEN RECOGNIZED BY THE BD GOVT OR WHO.ALL THESE WERE CHEATED BY THE AGENT IN S.L. ALL HAVE PAID MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION. SOME JOINED THE USTC MEDICAL COLLEGE AFTER PAYING THE FULL COURSE FEE. 11 ARE STILL THERE WITHOUT HOPE OR ALTERNATIVE. SLMC REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE DEGREE OF MEDICINE. PL ASK THE SLMC TO RECONSIDER THE RECOGNITION. THIS YEAR ALSO THIS AGENT ADVERTISED FOR MEDICINE SAYING THAT THEY CAN GET SCHOLARSHIPS. PL LOOK INTO THIS, GET TRUE POSITION AND GIVE MUCH PUBLICITY IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE. PL NOTE USTC MEDICAL COLLEGE IS RECOGNIZED BY SLMC.
The Hon.Minister of Education should step in and protect the public from those who deceive them, in the name of education. Should the Attorney General step in and protect the public from these devilish hawks. Who is the authority here? Hon. Minister might as well take the responsibility to prosecute these bogus people.
Henry
Hi Greetings from Pathe Academy!
I am writing this with the interest to provide justice to the medical students who are stranded and have given up their studies due to accreditation problems.
Medical students who wish to obtain a solution asap and who would like to continue their studies can contact me on 0094772017101.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE OF THIS. THERE WERE 59 STUDENTS ENTERED BGC TRUST UNIVERSITY CHITTAGONG BANGLADESH THEN IT WAS NOT EVEN RECOGNIZED BY THE BD GOVT OR WHO.ALL THESE WERE CHEATED BY THE AGENT IN S.L. ALL HAVE PAID MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION. SOME JOINED THE USTC MEDICAL COLLEGE AFTER PAYING THE FULL COURSE FEE. 11 ARE STILL THERE WITHOUT HOPE OR ALTERNATIVE. SLMC REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE DEGREE OF MEDICINE. PL ASK THE SLMC TO RECONSIDER THE RECOGNITION. THIS YEAR ALSO THIS AGENT ADVERTISED FOR MEDICINE SAYING THAT THEY CAN GET SCHOLARSHIPS. PL LOOK INTO THIS, GET TRUE POSITION AND GIVE MUCH PUBLICITY IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE. PL NOTE USTC MEDICAL COLLEGE IS RECOGNIZED BY SLMC.
Instead od fighting like cats and dogs , the authorities concerned must find ways and means of solving this problem , in the larger interests of the country.
It is an accepted fact that the country needs more doctors . If the state Universities cannot take in more students , private medical colleges must be encouraged and given all the facilities to produce excellent doctors .
Dr Sameera Senarathne is a distibuguihsed docot who passed out from gngodawilla campus with a medical degree
The truth is out there!
SLMC and UGC have been bribed and also ……………………………..
Hello Ms Kanna-gara,
Donot write lies. The person in photo is an old man and if he studied in Russia,then that time there was no ACT 16!!!.
Dont think that because you have a pen you are a decent journalist. You may be doing this BS letter to discredit a decent people.
The country should help this instituion to prosper as long term these Colleges are a sourse of foriegn investment and also saves millions going to China,Bangladesh,Russia,Ukraine,India to become doctors.
These newspapers told same for the Ragama PMC (said they did the arts stream0,look at now those doctors are working in Colombo as consultants. Some are overseas and sending dollars to Lanka.
After all medicine is not all science it is an art too .No point of expert knowledge if you dont have a heart and look at patient as a money making tool.
Look at what neighbouring India does! They graduate their youngsters cheaply and pack to overseas as doctors and nurses.What we do we?? Send your sri lankan mothers and sisters as slaves to overseas to be raped and exploited.
Shameless jealousy lousy Sinhala nation.
To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books with out patients is not to go to sea at all.
After completing Second MBBs exam, all medical students must have compulsory clinical training in a Teaching hospital in all most all specialties for three years when they come to the final MBBS.Lectures are not compulsory,But clinical exposure is a must.They need to make at least tentative clinical diagnosis of the patients before prescribing Medicine (Poison ii small quantities) and for further investigation of the patient to confirm the diagnosis.
Dont allow these medical colleges to produce too many medics in Sri Lanka. If they do we soon we the Doctors will have to reduce our charges because there is going to be too much competetion. Govt medical students must fight for this and protect our rights and our earning potential. If anything we must encourage more doctors from Govt universities to go abraod where they can earn more. We all must fight for this.
SAITM is an institution and trying to become the first private medical college in Sri Lanka. Why these opponents are trying to point out individuals to disgrace an institution. First of all, the author doesn’t know who Dr. Sameera is? The photograph is belong to Dr. Neville Fernando, the founder of SAITM.
We know the standards of medical service in Sri Lanka. When a patient is referred to have a by-pass operation, classically he needs to be in the waiting list for 2 years. Most of the patients die during the period of waiting. How many treatable cancer patients die due to late diagnosis? We definitely need more doctors and medical colleges and hospitals. The government cannot afford to have one so the alternative is a private medical college.
Somebody has pioneered to start one. Why are we are trying to disrupt the whole idea since we do not like few individuals in SAITM. I hope the honourable president Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha should lead the needy citizens to make this to a success!
If the Malabe Medical School had deceived the public, it should be prosecuted for such acts. Meanwhile, the GMOA should try to work with the medical school to provide the students who had gone to that school to give an opportunity to the students an opportunity to get the clinical experience. Do not punish the students who had got an education. I am not sure, who is in charge of medical colleges in Sri Lanka. Who ever who has the authority to regulate medical colleges should either prosecute Malabe Medical college for deceiving the public or help it to comply with regulations.
Henry
Private medical colleges in Sri Lanka is work in progress that should get the support and “guidance” it needs to achieve it’s goals. This could be a great thing for Sri Lanka; we could potentially help the shortage of doctors, promote employment and not to mention keep the large amount of money that would in other circumstances get moved outside of the country.
“Guidance” is the important word here; the GMOA which is happy to recognize a range of medical degrees from all over the world including countries like Nigeria should make a bigger effort to see the potential of one in our own country. To the best of my knowledge SATIM not only has local students but also international students which once again opens up a lot of doors and opportunities.
Don’t get me wrong, money is not everything and standards and regulations have to be maintained but I can’t help but feel that the approach taken by the GMOA is a non constructive and very short sighted; why can’t we try and work together for a change?
Why can’t slmc,gmoa and pmc get together and work to produce good doctors from private sector also ? I think now everything is o.k.saitm will get the recognision after they build the hospital
Have you ever visited this wonder of srilanka and the state of the art institution
The Hospital is gigantic and beautiful will be the most attractive in this Island.
University itself is impressive, and the students are so enthusiastic and eager to learn and motivated to be doctors. All three parties working against a tsunami of jealousy and greediness. Some oppositions oppose anything just for the sake of opposing. All three are never going to disappear from the face of earth just like that . First two not going to ever collapse. University is not only just medical. Why not everyone get together do something for this lovely students.They are your own blood and flesh.
Meya liyana lada “Nirmala Kannangara” namin penee sitina mama booru goneki!
Mama anik ewungea padayata natana buuruweki!
Thank You!
Man Buuru Meeharakaa