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| Friday, 16 January 2004 |
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Sri Lanka's family medicine goes to India
The standard of Family medicine in Sri Lanka has come up so well in the last three decades that Indian doctors are now sitting our PGIM conducted DFM (Diploma in Family Medicine) exam in India. Since this programme began in 1999, up to now, 83 Indian doctors have got qualified in the Sri Lankan Family Medicine Diploma (DFM) in the exams conducted in India by the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) Sri Lanka. Dr. Desmond Fernando, Dr. G. M. Heennilame and Dr. Dennis J. Aloysius of the DFM Examination Department of the PGIM in a statement on this event to the state. History making event in pGIM History was created in the field of postgraduate medical examinations in Sri Lanka when the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) conducted the Diploma in Family Medicine (DFM) Examination in Chennai, India. This was the first time that Sri Lanka and the PGIM ever held a postgraduate medical examination in another country for foreign nationals - a truly outstanding Sri Lankan achievement. It all began in 1996, when Dr. Fernando made a presentation on 'Post Graduate Training in Family Medicine in Sri Lanka' at the Wonca Middle East South Asian Regional Conference held in Kathmandu, Nepal. This aroused the interest of the Indian delegates present and at their request another presentation was made in 1997, at an Indian Medical Association Annual Scientific Sessions held in New Delhi. This evoked a further interest in the subject and a request was made for a more detailed presentations at an IMA Annual Scientific Sessions held in Hyderabad in 1998. Thereafter the College of General Practitioners of the Indian Medical Association (CGPIMA) decided to collaborate with the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine of the University of Colombo to have a training program and a Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine Examination under the auspices of the PGIM, University of Colombo. Areas of co-operation The Parties agreed to the following goals and objectives in order to initiate the international partnership program: A. Conducting of postgraduate courses of study and training programs in Family Medicine; B. Conducting of Postgraduate Examinations in Family Medicine; C. Provision of Continuing Medical Education in Family Medicine; D. Exchange of scientific, academic and technical information and appropriate academic materials and other information regarding Family Medicine; E. Academic exchanges, including mutual visits of faculty members to pursue research and to lecture, and family medicine postgraduate student exchanges on a reciprocal basis. F. Identification of opportunities for exchange and co-operation and joint research and development in the discipline of Family Medicine; G. Identification of opportunities for commercialization of technology; and H. Organisation and participation of joint academic and scientific activities such as seminars and conferences. Dr. B. Desmond J. S. Fernando, a member of the Board of Study in Family Medicine/General Practice, was appointed by the PGIM to coordinate this program and the College of General Practitioners of the Indian Medical Association appointed Dr. Sunderam Arulrhaj, the Dean of Studies, to serve in the same role in India. Dr. Arulrhaj made a visit to Sri Lanka during a DFM Examination as an unofficial observer. Following further discussions and much correspondence, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indian Medical Association and the University of Colombo. Dr. J. B. Peiris, Dr. S. Arulrhaj and Dr. Desmond Fernando played a key role in the genesis of this exercise. The Memorandum of Understanding has been published in Volume 23 of the Sri Lankan Family Physician. The CGPIMA decided to arrange a Course of Study for the DFM in India similar to the published curriculum of the DFM course in Sri Lanka. It was decided to hold a DFM Examination in India, identical in format with the DFM, Colombo. The DFM examination consists of 6 parts grouped into 3 sections as follows: Section 1 - Written examination - consisting of the Multiple Choice Question paper and the Modified Essay Question paper. Section 2 - Clinical Examination - consisting of the Long Consultation Examination and the Short Consultation Examinations. Section 3 - Practical Examination - consisting of the Log Diary Viva Voce Examination and the Objective Structured Practical Examination. A candidate had to achieve a pass mark in each and every section in addition to earning at that time a total of 60 marks in the whole examination to be eligible for award of the DFM. Four Sri Lankan examiners were appointed by the PGIM, Dr. G. M. Heennilame, Professor Leela de A. Karunaratne, Dr. Dennis J. Aloysius, Dr. L. D. Jayewardene in addition to Dr. B. Desmond J. S. Fernando as Coordinator and Chief Examiner. Four Indian examiners were nominated by the CGPIMA, in addition to Dr. Sunderam Arulrhaj as Chief Examiner and coordinator. Their CVs were examined by the PGIM and approved. The first DFM Examination of the PGIM Colombo in India was held in August 1999 at Chennai. The examination has been conducted every year since then, with the latest being held in July 2002. The Examination Centre for all the 4 examinations conducted held so far was the Ramachandra Medical College and Research Centre, Puror, Chennai. A Results Board Meeting was held after each examination in Chennai. Dr. J. B. Peiris, the Director of the PGIM, chaired each of these boards. So far (2002) 64 Indian nationals have obtained the Diploma in Family Medicine. One of the attractive features of the DFM is that successful candidates are eligible to present themselves for the MD (Family Medicine). So far four Indian candidates have signified their desire to proceed towards sitting the MD. The Indian Examination team comprised:- Dr. S. Arulrhaj, National President of the Indian Medical Association, Examiner and Coordinator, Prof. S. Chadrasekeran, Prof. R. Rajasekeran, Dr. M. K. Sudaharshan, Dr. A. Ramamurthi. **************** Health Page organized Doctor-Patient Discussion at Durdans Hospital Health Page Medical Advisory Panel and Durdans Hospital Management regret that due to limited accommodation facilities available at the Durdans Auditorium (100 seats) the Durdans Management had to turn down requests for registration to attend the Doctor-Patient Discussion on 'How normal are you after a bypasss scheduled to be held on February 1. To those interested we are planning to have a repeat discussion on the same topic shortly. The following doctors too will be on the Medical Panel on February 1. 1. Dr. S. Mitrakumar (Interventional - Cardiologist, Specialised in Paediatric Heart Conditions) 2. Mrs. Sigrid de Silva (Nutritionist) Your questions on Cardiology could also be handed over to Mrs. Margret Goonawardena at the Durdans Hospital. ****************
Centenarian News My Centenarian Mother My mother who passed away on 8.12.2003 was a Centenarian. She was born on November 27 , 1900. She was married twice. 1st marriage - 4 daughters 2nd marriage - 2 sons 2nd daughter celebrated their golden wedding.
She kept in good health and was not subject to Arthritis, Pressure and Diabetes. She had a hip fracture about 25 years ago. She recovered and used to get around with a walker. She had a cataract operation about 30 years ago and was able to read well. She loved playing cards and used to get together with the children and also in the "Home" and play cards. She loved to eat well and took great pains that she was always well dressed at all times. She kept in good health till about the last two years. Her sight and hearing was failing. Within the last month she was hospitalized on two occasions. Her memory was good. She loved getting together with the family for any party and always wanted to have a good time. She was one of a large family. Her father married three times and had 17 children. She was the last survivor, one sister died at 99. Even her family used to get together on a Sunday and play cards. Her grand daughter who lives in Dehiwela used to care for her and provide the necessities. |
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She had 18 grand children, 24 great grand children and one great great
grand child. We had 5 generations in my family.
