Administration and management of healthcare institutions, divisions and directorates have been carried out by Medical Officers (MO), since the inception of the healthcare delivery system in Sri Lanka. Medical Administrators have the responsibility to improve the healthcare provision in a sustainable manner in the general and health-specific administration of Ministry of Health, Provincial & Regional directorates and tertiary and secondary care hospitals. The scope of Medical Administration includes health planning, implementation and evaluation, human resource management, health economics, etc. in addition to general administrative functions.

Thus, it was necessary to provide MOs who are undertaking administrative positions in the Ministry of Health as well as in Provincial and Regional directorates with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes that would allow them to become efficient medical administrators. The establishment of the MSc programme in Medical Administration was the first step in this endeavor. The MSc is also the steppingstone for the MD programme in Medical Administration in Sri Lanka. The programme meets the requirements of the relevant qualification descriptors and level descriptors of the Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework and is set at Level 10 of the Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework.

General Objective

To produce a graduate who will have competencies in managerial, advisory, research and communication responsibilities, to become an efficient and effective healthcare administrator. It is expected that graduates of this programme will be executing the above roles to ensure that the health system meets the demands of the country.

• Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, the graduates will be able to:

• Identify problems within the system and develop short term and long term plans to remedy such problems by utilizing and mobilizing available resources within the broader framework of the Sri Lankan health policy.
• Undertake monitoring and evaluation of policies, programs and implementing strategies, from time to time, by utilizing health systems and epidemiological methodologies to provide feedback to different levels ranging from the community to policy makers.
• Establish efficient and effective channels of communication among different levels of health staff and various sectors so that the individual and group responsibilities are clearly known.
• Promote inter-sectoral and intra-sectoral coordination to ensure the provision of quality health care.
• Develop skills in supervising health teams to assure quality of work through a process of inquiry and corrective action.
• Keep abreast of recent advances in health management through a process of continuing self-learning.
• Carry out the assigned and expected duties within a professional code of conduct while upholding clearly defined social values.

In order to be eligible to sit the selection examination, candidates must have:

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 three (3) years of post-internship in Medical/Clinical practice in a university/public/private sector institution in Sri Lanka acceptable to the PGIM.

Or

1. A dental degree registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC)
2. Satisfactory completion of five (5) years of full-time work in dental practice acceptable to the PGIM.

Notes:

• The criteria prescribed above should be satisfied by the applicants as at the date of closure of applications. Where a short-fall has occurred due to any reason, including sick, maternity or other leave, the doctor concerned should complete the shortfall in order to become eligible to apply for the Selection Examination.
• Foreign nationals applying to register for selection examinations should possess a medical degree registrable with the SLMC. The decision of the Board of Management will be final in all such applications. Foreign dental surgeons should possess one year of dental practice acceptable to the Board of Study.

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