SLMA launches 2012 International Conference and Exhibitions

By Devin Jayasundera

The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) in celebrating its 125th anniversary announced the launch of the SLMA 2012 International Conference and Exhibitions to professionals in the medical field and the media on 4 October.

The theme of this year’s conference will be ‘Global Forum for Sri Lankan Doctors’.

The SLMA, which is the oldest national professional medical association in all of Asia, is planning a series of conferences covering the entire country during the next year. It will start with the members convention in Colombo followed by the regional conferences on 27 and 28 January in Jaffna, 24 and 25 February in Galle, 7 and 8 April in  Batticaloa, 4 and 5 March in  Kandy and 2 and 3 June in Anuradhapura, while the final SLMA congress will be held in July in Colombo.

SLMA President Prof. Vajira Dissanayake in his address highlighted the significance of the accomplishments of the Sri Lankan health system has made in the past years: “It is a fact that for every rupee spent in the State health care services in Sri Lanka, the return on investment has been far greater than anywhere else in the world.”

He went on to say that at medical conferences abroad foreign experts use the famous words “if Sri Lanka can do it, why not the rest of the developing world?” to highlight the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s health system. Even though there is slight recognition, Prof. Dissanayake stated that they should make the full use of this impression to ‘market’ the Sri Lankan health sector’s achievements globally.

He stressed that was is high time to let go off this dogmatic perception of seeing the West as the finishing school for Sri Lankan doctors and instead to strive to convert Sri Lanka as a centre for medical learning for the rest of the world, as it was in the ancient past.

With regard to sponsorships for the events, he proclaimed that the pharmaceutical industry as in previous years would provide the necessary support. Prof. Dissanayake called on the corporate sector to join to promote Sri Lanka as a destination for high-end medical conferences patronised by an exclusive clientele of foreign medical specialists.

Guest of Honour Dr. Dennis Aloysius said that the achievements the health sector had achieved were stupendous in considering the resources that exist in the country.

“When I was a medical student, Singaporean doctors used to study in Sri Lankan medical colleges and most of the original Singaporean doctors passed out from these colleges. It’s time to revive our medical system to regain that position again,” he asserted.

“Today Sri Lanka is facing a huge issue in the health sector due to the shortage of doctors,” stated Chief Guest Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

He said this shortage existed not only in the north east but also in the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces. As a result of this, the Government has been forced to close about 50 medical centres.

He personally invited Sri Lankan doctors who are abroad to come to Sri Lanka and serve its citizens as this dire need should be fulfilled. “If this need is not met, more social problems will come in to existence and will give rise to another ethnic conflict,” the Minister noted.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Director General Vipula Wanigasekera and Prof. Sanath P. Lanmabadusuriya were present at the event.