SLMC to take disciplina​ry action against Eliyantha White

SLMC to take disciplina?ry action against Eliyantha White[ Wednesday, 06 July 2011, 08:42.21 AM GMT +05:30 ]The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), the governing body for western medical practice in Sri Lanka, said yesterday Eliyantha White who calls himself a doctor should be prosecuted under the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act or the Penal Code if he had allegedly prescribed the drug Prednisolone to Sri Lanka cricketer Upul Tharanga.

SLMC Registrar Dr. N.J. Nonis responding to concerns raised by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said no one by the name of Eliyantha White has been registered in the Sri Lanka Medical Council and therefore the SLMC had no disciplinary control over him.

“We do not have any information about his qualifications nor of his having been registries in the other two medical councils in Sri Lanka -- Ayurveda or Homoeopathy,” Dr. Nonis added.

Meanwhile, a Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Authority spokesman said it was a violation of the act if a person unqualified in allopathy prescribed allopathic drugs to anyone.

“Only a doctor registered under the SLMC is qualified and authorized to prescribe medicinal drugs in Sri Lanka. Those who violate the Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Act are liable for prosecution and punishment under the penal code,’ the spokesman said.

He said such a person if found guilty would be liable to a fine of up to Rs.50,000 or six months in jail or both.

“However, we need a formal complaint to act against a person who is said to have violated the act,” he said.

The spokesman said more than 30,000 quacks were known to practise western medicine, homeopathy and Ayurveda in Sri Lanka.

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