SRI

 LANKA  MEDICAL          
COUNCIL  
SRI  LANKA  MEDICAL  COUNCIL  
•  STATUTORY  BODY  CREATED  UNDER  THE  
MEDICAL  COUNCIL  ORDINANCE  (24  OF  1924)  

•  REGULATE  THE  ACTIVITIES  OF  THE  PROFESSION;  

MAINTAINING  DISCIPLINE,  ETHICAL  PRACTICE,  
ACADEMIC  &  PROFESSIONAL  STANDARDS  OF  
HEALTH  PROFESSIONALS  

•  OFFICE  LOCATED  AT  NORRIS  CANAL  ROAD,  

COLOMNO  10  
SLMC  -­‐  COMPOSITION  
• PRESIDENT  –  APPOINTED  BY  THE  
MINISTER  OF  HEALTH  
• DIRECTOR  GENERAL  OF  HEALTH  
SERVICES  
• ONE  REPRESENTATIVE  FROM  EACH  
MEDICAL  FACULTY    
• ONE  REPRESENTATIVE  FROM  EACH  
DENTAL  FACULTY  
SLMC  –  COMPOSITION  (Contd.)  
• EIGHT  MEDICAL  PRACTITIONERS  (MBBS)  

• ONE  DENTAL  PRACTITIONER  

• ONE  REGISTERED  MEDICAL  

PRACTITIONER  

• FOUR  MEMBERS  APPOINTED  BY  THE  

MINISTER  OF  HEALTH  
FUNCTIONS  OF  THE  SLMC  
• MAINTAINING  THE  STANDARDS  OF  
MEDICAL  EDUCATION  
• RECOGNITION  OF  MEDICAL  COLLEGES  
THAT  GRANT  MEDICAL  DEGREES  
• CONDUCTING  EXAMS  (ERPM)  FOR  
FOREIGN  QUALIFIED  MEDICAL  
GRADUANTS  
FUNCTIONS  OF  THE  SLMC  
Contd.  

• MAINTAINING  REGISTERS  –  MEDICAL  

PRACTITIONERS,  DENTISTS,  RMP,  NURSES,  
MIDWIVES,  PHARMACISTS  &  OTHER  
PROFESSIONS  SUPPLEMENTARY  TO  
PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE  
• RESTORATION  OF  NAMES  IN  THE  
REGISTER  
• HANDLING  INQUIRIES  ON  REGISTRATION  
• ISSUING  CERTIFICATE  OF  GOODSTANDING  
FUNCTIONS  OF  THE  SLMC  Contd.  
• ADVICE  THE  GOVERNMENT  ON  HEALTH  
RELATED  MATTERS  
• INQUIRY  INTO  COMPLAINTS  AGAINST  
REGISTERED  PROFESSIONALS/WARNINGS,  
SUSPENSIONS,  ERASURE  AND  
REINSTATEMENT  OF  REGISTERED  
PERSONS  
• INFORMING  POLICE  OF  UNQUALIFIED  
PEOPLE  PRACTICING  MEDICINE  
FUNCTIONS  OF  THE  SLMC  Contd.  
• FORMULATING  ETHICAL  GUIDELINES  TO  
MEDICAL  AND  DENTAL  PRACTITIONERS  

• GUIDELINES  FOR  INTERN  MEDICAL  

OFFICERS  

• INSTRUCTIONS  ON  WRITING  MEDICAL  

CERTIFICATES  &  DEATH  CERTIFICATES  
SERIOUS  PROFESSIONAL  
MISCONDUCT    
• ALSO  REFERED  BY  INFAMOUS  CONDUCT/
ETHICAL  MISCONDUCT  
 
• INCLUDES  SUCH  BEHAVIOUR  OF  A  
MEMBER  OF  THE  PROFESSION  WHICH  IS  
REGARDED  AS  DISGRACEFUL  AND  
DISHONOURABLE  BY  HIS  COLLEAGUES  
SERIOUS  PROFESSIONAL  
MISCONDUCT  Contd.  
INCLUDES  UNDERMENTIONED    ACTS:  6  “A”  and  other  
1.    ABORTION  –  CARRRYING  OUT  CRIMINAL  OR            
         ILLEGAL  ABORTIONS  
 
2.  ADDICTION  –  TO  ALCOHOL  OR  DRUGS  
 
3.  ADULTERY  –  USE  HIS/HER  POSITION  AS  A                
       PRACTITIONER  TO  GAIN  ACCESS  TO    
       PATIENT/FAMILY  MEMBER  FOR  ILLICIT            
         AFFAIR  
SERIOUS  PROFESSIONAL  
MISCONDUCT  Contd.  
4.      ADVERTISING  –  IN  MASS  MEDIA  

5.      ASSOCIATION  –  EMPLOYING        
           UNQUALIFIED  PEOPLE  AT  HIS      
           CLINIC,  HOSPITAL  
 
6.  ABUSE  OF  POWER  –  ISSUING  FRAUDULENT      
       MEDICAL  CERTIFICATES,  FALSE  CAUSE  OF              
       DEATH,  MEDICO-­‐LEGAL  REPORTS  ETC.  
           
SERIOUS  PROFESSIONAL  
MISCONDUCT  Contd.  

7.        SPLITTING  OF  FEES  –  DOCTORS  PAYING      

             PART  OF  HIS  FEES  TO  ANOTHER  PERSON            
             WHO  REFERS/RECOMMENDS  HIM  FOR    
           CONSULTATION  
 
8.      IF  FOUND  GUILTY  OF  CRIMINAL  OR    
           CIVIL  MEDICAL  NEGLIGENCE  BY  A    
           COURT  OF  LAW  
 
SERIOUS  PROFESSIONAL  
MISCONDUCT  Contd.  
9.  IF  CONVICTED  FOR  A  SERIOUS  CRIMINAL      
         OFFENCE  EX.  MURDER,  RAPE,  FINANCIAL      
         FRAUDS  
 
10.PERFORMING  ILLEGAL  PROCEDURES  EX.    
           ABORTIONS    
 
11.  CRITICIZING  OTHER  DOCTORS  IN  PUBLIC    
TYPES  OF  REGISTRATION  -­‐
MEDICAL  PRATITIONERS  
• PROVISIONAL  REGISTRATION  FOR  
INTERNSHIP  
• FULL  REGISTRATION  AFTER  SUCCESSFUL  
COMPLETION  OF  INTERNSHIP  
• TEMPORARY  REGISTRATION  FOR  FOREIGN  
MEDICAL  PRACTITIONERS  –  FOR  A  
SPECIFIED  PERIOD  OF  TIME  TO  WORK  AT  A  
GIVEN  HOSPITAL  IN  A  PARTICULAR  FIELD  
PRIVILAGES  OF  PROVISIONAL  
REGISTRATION  
• CAN  BE  EMPLOYED  IN  GOVERNMENT  
HOSPITAL  UNDER  A  SPECIALIST    
• ENTITLED  TO  AN  ALLOWANCES  FOR  THE  
SERVICES  PROVIDED  
• ENTITLED  TO  USE  “DOCTOR”  
• ENTITLED  TO  ISSUE  MEDICAL  
CERTIFICATES  FOR  IN-­‐WARD  PATIENTS    
PRIVILAGES  OF  FULL  
REGISTRATION  
•  CAN  PRACTICE  MEDICINE  BOTH  IN  STATE/
PRIVATE  SECTOR  

•  ENTITLED  TO  USE  “DOCTOR”  

•  ENTITLED  TO  ISSUE  MEDICAL  CERTIFICATES  

FOR  PATIENTS  UNDER  HIS/HER  CARE    

•  ENTITLED  TO  RECOVER  REASONABLE  

CHARGES/SALARY  
PRIVILAGES  OF  FULL  REGISTRATION  
Contd.  

• CONSIDERED  AS  AN  EXPERT  MEDICAL  

WITNESS  

• QUALIFIED  TO  ACT  AS  A  PERSON  TO  

CERTIFY  DOCUMENTS/WITNESS  
 
• PERMITTED  TO  STORE  AND  PRESCRIBE  
CERTAIN  DRUGS  SUCH  AS  NARCOTIC  
ANALGESICS  
DISCIPLINARY  PROCEDURE  AGAINST  
MEDICAL  PRACTITIONERS  
• A  MEMBER  OF  THE  PUBLIC  CAN  MAKE  A  
COMPLAINT  AGAINST  A  MEDICAL  
PRACTITIONER  THROUGH  AN  AFFIDAVIT  

• COMPLAINTS  AGAINST  A  PRACTITIONER  

COULD  ALSO  BE  MADE  BY  HEAD  OF  A  
GOVT  DEPT,  VICE  CHANCELLOR/
REGISTRAR  OF  A  UNIVERSITY,  HEAD  OF  A  
LOCAL  AUTHORITY  
DISCIPLINARY  PROCEDURE  AGAINST  
MEDICAL  PRACTITIONERS  Contd.  
• UPON  CONVICTION  OF  A  CRIME,  CIVIL/
CRIMINAL  COURT  CAN  REPORT  A  
PRACTITIONER  TO  SLMC  

• UPON  RECEIPT  OF  A  COMPLAINT  THE  

SLMC  WOULD  IMMEDIATELY  INFORM  THE  
MEDICAL  PRACTITIONER  CONCERNED  
DISCIPLINARY  PROCEDURE  AGAINST  
MEDICAL  PRACTITIONERS  Contd.  
• THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SLMC  WOULD  GO  
THROUGH  THE  COMPLAINT  AND  SEE  IF  
THE  COMPLAINT  NEEDS  AN  INQUIRY  

• IF  HE  THINKS  IT  NEEDS  AN  INQUIRY  HE  

WILL  THEN  REFER  IT  TO  THE  PRELIMINARY  
PROCEEDINGS  COMMITTEE  (PPC)  
PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS  
COMMITTEE  (PPC)  Contd.  
• PPC  WILL  STUDY  THE  COMPLAINT  AND  
DECIDE  WHETHER  IT  NEEDS  FURTHER  
INQUIRY  OR  NOT  

• IF  PPC  DECIDES  TO  HOLD  AN  INQUIRY  

THEN  THE  PRACTITIONER  WILL  BE  
INFORMED  OF  THE  CHARGE    

• PPC  WILL  HOLD  AN  INQUIRY  

PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS  
COMMITTEE  (PPC)  Contd.  

• AT  THE  INQUIRY,  PPC    WILL  DECIDE  IF  

THE  COMPLAINT  DESERVES  A  
FURTHER  INQUIRY  BY  THE  
PROFESSIONAL  CONDUCT  
COMMITTEE  (PCC)  
PROFESSIONAL  CONDUCT  
COMMITTEE  (PCC)    

• IF  THE  PCC  DECIDES  THAT  THERE  IS  

NO  NEED  FOR  FURTHER  INQUIRY,  PCC  
WILL  CONVEY  THEIR  DECISION  TO  
PRACTITIONER  &  COMPLAINANT  
  
PROFESSIONAL  CONDUCT  
COMMITTEE  (PCC)  Contd.  
        PCC  DECIDES  TO  HOLD  AN  INQUIRY,  
   • IF  
PRACTITINER  WILL  BE  INFORMED,  LAWYER  
CAN  REPRESENT  THE  PRACTITIONER/
WITNESSES  CAN  BE  SUMMONED  

• AT  THE  END  PCC  WILL  DECIDE  GUILTY/NOT  

AND  COUNCIL  TAKE  DISCIPLINARY  ACTION  
PROFESSIONAL  CONDUCT  
COMMITTEE  (PCC)  Contd.  
 
DISCIPLINARY  ACTION  INCLUDE:  
 
 A)  WARNING  
 
 B)  TEMPORARY  SUSPENSION  
 
 C)  ERASURE  OF  NAME  FROM    
                           REGISTER  
 
REASONS  FOR  ERASURE  OF  NAME  
(FROM  THE  REGISTER)  
• REGISTRATION  OBTAINED  FRAUDULENTLY,  
WITHDRAWAL  OF  QUALIFICATION  

• GUILTY  OF  SERIOUS  PROFESSIONAL  

MISCONDUCT  (INFAMOUS  CONDUCT)  
 
• ACTS  OF  DISHONESTY  (FALSE  COD,  BIRTH/
MEDICAL  CERTIFICATES  ETC.)  
REASONS  FOR  ERASURE  OF  NAME  
(FROM  THE  REGISTER)  (Contd.)  
• GUILTY  OF  SERIOUS  CRIME  EX.  RAPE,  
MURDER  etc.  
 
• GUILTY  OF  SERIOUS  CIVIL  MEDICAL  
NEGLIGENCE  
 
• SERIOUS  MENTAL/PHYSICAL  IMPAIRMENT