Perioperative care is an important determinant of outcome for patients undergoing surgery. The programme leading to Board certification in Anaesthesiology aims to produce practitioners capable of providing care of the highest quality in fields of Anaesthesiology and its subspecialties.

This study programme leads to the award of the postgraduate degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in Anaesthesiology of the University of Colombo, and board certification in Anaesthesiology by the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), University of Colombo. The academic supervision of this programme is by the Board of Study (BOS) in Anaesthesiology of the PGIM. MD (Anaesthesiology) degree and board certification in Anaesthesiology corresponds to Level 12 in the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) of the Ministry of Higher Education, published in 2012 by the University Grants Commission.

Trainees who are awarded the M.D. (Anaesthesiology) degree will have the option of specializing in anaesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine and subspecialties in Anaesthesiology, as deemed necessary for the Health Services by the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka at different stages in the future. The post-MD training programmes in these specialties are organized by the Board of Study in Anaesthesiology or the respective specialty boards set up for this purpose in PGIM. The details of these will be published separately in separate prospectuses.

Trainees who opt for a special interest would be eligible for Board certification in Anaesthesiology with details of the special interest training given in a transcript. The post-MD training programmes in these special interest areas are organized by the Board of Study in Anaesthesiology, and the details of these are published in separate prospectuses. The future Specialist General Anaesthesiologist will be a key stakeholder in perioperative management of patients and will play a major role in improving outcomes. The programme is intended to allow trainees to acquire the skills, attitudes and knowledge required to function as a competent Anaesthesiologist providing perioperative care of the highest quality.

The trainees are expected to undertake future leadership roles in managing anaesthetic, intensive care and pain services and in capacity building to ensure sustained growth of this field to meet national requirements.

Duration of the Training Programme:

Once selected for training at the Selection Examination in Anaesthesiology, the programme consists of the following 6 stages:

Stage 1: Initial competency-based anaesthesia training – 3 months

Stage 2: Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) in anaesthesia and Obstetric Anaesthesia

Stage 3: Registrar (pre-MD) training: 31 months

Stage 4: MD examination

Stage 5: Senior Registrar (post-MD) training: 24 months

Stage 6: Pre-board certification assessment (PBCA)

The completion of the stages 1-4 of this programme lead to the award of the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Anaesthesiology, while the completion of the stages 1,2, 3 followed by 4-6 lead to board certification in Anaesthesiology. The minimum duration of the programme is 58 months, excluding the time taken for the conduct of the MD (Anaesthesiology) Examination and the PBCA.

The Postgraduate training program is intended to produce a Specialist Anaesthetist capable of fulfilling the following roles:

• Specialist clinician in Anaesthesiology, Intensive care and Pain Medicine.
• Educator
• Communicator
• Collaborator
• Leader & manager
• Health advocate
• Scholar

In fulfilling the above roles, at the end of the training programme, a trainee shall be able to achieve the following learning outcomes.

1. Manage patients needing anaesthesia, intensive care and treatment of pain effectively.
2. Apply clinical, evidence-based medicine and analytical principals in managing patients presenting for anaesthesia, in intensive care and pain disorders.

3. Communicate effectively with patients, caregivers and team members.
4. Acquire skills necessary for a role as a trainer and mentor.
5. Demonstrate leadership, administration and management skills to lead a center / department providing an effective service.

6. Develop the skills to design and conduct of research and development projects and for critical assessment of published work.

7. Develop a framework for Continued Professional Development (CPD) including life-long habits of reading, reviewing literature, consultation with colleagues, attendance at scientific meetings and presenting research at reputed conferences and publication of scientific research in reputed journals.

8. Demonstrate traits of professionalism such as honesty, integrity, responsibility, and accountability to practice as professionals in the field.

9. Conversant in the areas of law, medical ethics and human rights in relation to the practice of medicine; specifically, anaesthesia, critical care and pain management and research.

10. Provide leadership in ensuring the highest standards of ‘clinical governance’, ‘individual and institutional accountability” and responsibility for making policy for continuous “quality improvement’ of services and providing the highest ‘standards of care’.

11. Appreciate and apply the principles of accountability, quality assurance and improvement, clinical audit, evidence-based practice, clinical standards and guidelines, risk management and human resource management.

12. Network, establish links and collaborate with experts in the field.
13. Continuously strive for excellence.

1. A medical degree registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).
2. Satisfactory completion of internship acceptable to the SLMC.
3. Satisfactory completion of one year of post internship in medical / clinical practice in a university / public / private sector institution in Sri Lanka acceptable to the PGIM.

The criteria prescribed in paragraphs 1 to 3 must have been satisfied by the applicants as at the date of closure of applications for the Selection Examination in Anaesthesiology. Where a shortfall has occurred due to any reason, including sick, maternity or other leave, the doctor concerned should complete the shortfall in order to be eligible to apply for the Selection Examination.

4. A medical certificate from a specialist physician in a Teaching Hospital to confirm general mental and physical fitness.
5. Following requirements stipulated by the Board of Study, relevant to a particular field of study, which have been approved by the Board of Management.

– Certification in advanced life support (ALS) by the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists in Sri Lanka (COAISL).

Foreign nationals should possess a degree registrable with the Sri Lanka Medical Council at the time of application.

Exemptions on the basis of foreign qualifications:

A candidate who possesses CCST / CST or equivalent may be admitted at a suitable point in the pre-MD programme.

They will be required to sit for the MD Examination and complete post-MD training to be eligible for Board Certification.

Granting of exemptions from any part of the examination or/and post-MD training may be considered by the respective Boards of Study on the basis of the:

1. Training requirements already satisfied, or
2. Other postgraduate qualifications already obtained in the relevant specialty

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