The award of the MD (General Medicine) degree and board certification in General Medicine stands at Level 10 in the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) of the Ministry of Higher Education, published in 2012 by the University Grants Commission.

Trainees who obtain the M.D. (Medicine) degree may also be offered the opportunity to specialize in one of the specialties of general medicine, viz. Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Endocrinology & Metabolic Medicine, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Neurology, Respiratory Medicine, and Rheumatology & Rehabilitation Medicine. The post-MD training programmes in these specialties are organized by the respective specialty boards set up for this purpose by the Board of Study in Medicine, and the details of these are published separately in separate prospectuses.

Trainees who are successful in the M.D. (Medicine) Examination are also offered the choice of post-MD training conducted by other boards of study or their specialty boards leading to board certifications in other specialties, viz., Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, and Critical Care Medicine. The details of these are published separately by the respective boards.

The academic matters of the Programme are determined by the Board of Study in Medicine, in concurrence with the relevant units of the PGIM. It has representations from all departments of medicine/clinical medicine of medical faculties, trainers in general medicine from all teaching hospitals, and the Ceylon College of Physicians (CCP). The training is conducted in units in teaching hospitals of the Ministry of Health (including university professorial units of medicine) and units in the state and private sectors recognized for this purpose by the Board of Study in Medicine. The PGIM is therefore in the ideal position to provide this Programme for the whole nation, in terms of its access to expertise and facilities, and its inclusivity and representativeness, which have evolved and developed over the past decades. This development has taken into consideration both national requirements and international trends, paid due regard to academic standards and rigor suitable for the postgraduate level, and has taken account of the practical situation of the state and private health care sectors.

The overall aim of the training is to facilitate the development of a physician who is able to function as an independent specialist in general (internal) medicine. General physicians are those with expertise in the diagnosis and management of acute and complex, chronic and multisystem disorders in adult patients. They specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of general medical problems, especially those involving non-specific symptoms, atypical presentations, multiple problems or multi-system disorders. They are skilled in the management of acute unselected medical emergencies. They undertake a comprehensive, holistic assessment of a patient’s problems, both biomedical and psychosocial. They are competent to provide coordinated care with the assistance of multidisciplinary teams to optimize health outcomes, including the quality of life, while working in hospitals and clinics.

Once a trainee is selected for training at the Medicine Selection Examination, the training programme consists of the following 4 stages:

• Stage 1: Registrar training (pre-MD training), for a total period of 2½ years
• Stage 2: the MD examination
• Stage 3: Senior Registrar training (post-MD training), for a total period of 2 years for General Medicine
• Stage 4: Pre-Board Certification Assessment (PBCA)

The completion of the stages 1-2 of this programme lead to the award of the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in Medicine, while the completion of the stages 3-4 lead to board certification in General Medicine.

The total minimum duration of the programme is 4½ years, excluding the time taken for the conduct of the M.D. (Medicine) Examination and the PBCA.

1. Clinical domain
2. Demonstrates knowledge of the aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics and therapeutics for a broad range of health problems that are relevant to Sri Lanka, and at regional and global level.
3. Possesses the necessary procedural skills and competencies of data gathering (i.e. skills of history-taking, physical examination and practical procedures), synthesis and analysis of information (i.e. decision-making), and therapeutic procedures.
4. Makes comprehensive assessments of patients’ problems and is able to diagnose and manage acute and chronic, complex and multisystem disorders in adult patients.
5. Provides competent and coordinated, high quality care with the assistance of multidisciplinary teams in the hospital and in the community, which includes rehabilitation, palliation, and end-of-life care.
6. Effectively seeks and critically evaluates information and provides cost-effective care based on scientific evidence.
7. Professionalism domain
8. Bases clinical practice on our values and ethics.
9. Communicates effectively with patients, relatives, members of the health care team and community in a culturally sensitive manner.
10. Demonstrates kindness, humaneness and shows compassion towards patients. 9. Knows and is able to practice medicine with due attention to patient safety and the safety of the healthcare team.
11. Takes an advocacy role, especially in issues relating to health.
12. Management domain
13. Demonstrates knowledge of the functioning and structure of the health system, functions effectively within the administrative structure, and is able to lead and manage healthcare teams.
14. Maintains health records and communicates effectively using the written medium.
15. Other diverse domains
16. Is motivated and skilled in self-learning and reflection.
17. Uses Information Technology in clinical practice.
18. Is able to teach, mentor and train health professionals including undergraduates, postgraduates and other specialists, educate the public, and advocate for health promotion.
19. Is able to formulate, plan, conduct and report ethically conducted original research or clinical observations that makes a significant contribution to the development of the discipline and satisfies peer review and merits publication.
20. Is able to function in different settings locally in Sri Lanka and in other parts of the world.

To be eligible to sit for the Medicine Selection Examination and to be selected for admission to the Programme, a candidate should fulfill all of the following eligibility criteria:

1. Hold a medical degree registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).
2. Complete an internship recognized by the SLMC.
3. Complete one-year work experience in Sri Lanka, after internship.
4. Have six months of experience as an intern house officer in general medicine, OR six months experience as an intern house officer in paediatrics with six months experience as a full time medical officer after internship (consecutively or in total) with both in -ward and out -patient care of adult patients, with first on call commitments under the supervision of a full time specialist, in general medicine, cardiology, clinical oncology, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, nephrology, respiratory medicine, rheumatology, endocrinology, intensive care medicine, critical care medicine or accident & emergency
5. Produce a medical certificate from a specialist physician to confirm general mental and physical fitness.
6. Comply with any other PGIM regulations.

Those who fulfill the above criteria should be successful at the Medicine Selection Examination in order to enter the in-service training programme.

A candidate with a certificate of completion of specialist training from a foreign country may be exempted from the Medicine Selection Examination, provided this is in accordance with the prevailing general regulations of the PGIM. However, such candidate should comply with requirements 1, 2, 5 and 6 above to be eligible to enter the programme. Furthermore, such candidate should complete Stage 1 (complete the pre-MD training appointments recommended by the Board of Study), Stage 2 (be successful at the MD Examination), Stage 3 (complete the post-MD training appointments recommended by the Board of Study), and Stage 4 (be successful at the PBCA) in order to be eligible for board certification.

Please refer to the relevant prospectus for the most up to date information. The prospectus of a particular programme contains official information pertaining to a programme approved by the Board of Management, University Senate and the University Grants Commission