Military Medicine is a medical specialty, attending to the medical risks and needs (both preventive and interventional) of soldiers, sailors and other service members. This vital field of medicine has historically involved the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and in the 20th Century, the ergonomics and health effects of operating military-specific machines and equipment such as submarines, tanks, helicopters and airplanes. Few countries certify or recognize “military medicine” as a formal specialty in its own right.

The planning and practice of the surgical management of mass battlefield casualties and the logistical and administrative considerations of establishing and operating combat support hospitals are a part of this. It involves military medical hierarchies, especially the organization of structured medical command and administrative systems that interact with and support deployed combat units.

The administration and practice of health care for military service members and their dependents in non-deployed (peacetime) settings is another aspect. This may consist of a medical system paralleling all the medical specialties and sub-specialties that exist in the civilian sector. As there is no recognized military medicine course in Sri Lanka, medical officers of tri-services of Sri Lanka have no clear path to improve their knowledge.

However, in spite of this, military doctors are often deployed in military and disaster situations both locally and overseas and the tasks performed by them are often appreciated in many occasions. Activities during the thirty-year long war in Sri Lanka, tsunami period in Sri Lanka, earthquake in Nepal, nuclear disaster in Japan, as UN peacekeepers in Haiti, functioning a level 2 hospital in Sudan and most recently during floods and landslides in Sri Lanka are the best examples.

In Army, Navy and Air force, the basic qualification of an officer is a university degree. During the career, the officer has a laid down tract to follow; junior command course (JCC), and/or junior staff course (JSC) and passed staff college (PSC) to be eligible for rank promotions or commanding positions.

For medical officers of the three forces no such pathway, neither qualifications nor examinations exists. This has created a difference between the medical officers and other officers within the services. MSc in Military Medicine was planned and proposed in view to gain and improve the knowledge of military medicine and erase this difference in future. The program 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.

Military Medicine comprises of unique combination of subjects and core curriculum which covers combat medicine, diving and hyperbaric medicine and aviation medicine.

The objectives of the program therefore include the following;

• To enable graduates to function optimally as fully fledged military medical officers, to cope with an array of different situations, from military medicine to emergency terror situations.
• To expand the knowledge and maintain a high-quality service within the tri forces and shoulder the burden of national disasters with more sophistication.
• Form a clear career pathway to medical officers within the services which may attract and retain them in tri forces.
• To advertise in the region and enroll medical officers of foreign tri-services to enhance the strength and make an additional income to the country.

Program Outcomes

At the end of the training program, a trainee should be able to;

1. Demonstrate the competencies of combat, naval and aviation medical practice within the military environment
2. Practice triage, MEDEVAC, casualty care in the battlefield and manage war wounded in primary, secondary and tertiary care levels
3. Apply concepts of physics, aerodynamics, human physiology & psychology into military aircrew training, aircrew certification, crash investigations and aero medical evacuation
4. Apply physics and physiology of diving, diving procedures and equipment in operational diving related medical aspects such as barotrauma, hypo & hyperbaric medicine
5. Analyze and assess combat, naval and aviation accidents
6. Demonstrate leadership and management qualities and skills in relation to military medical practice
7. Illustrate customs and etiquettes of officers and gentlemen / ladies
8. Coordinate and practice multi-disciplinary approach with military and civil medical support in natural and manmade disasters
9. Diagnose, manage and prevent medical and dental conditions in military environment
10. Conduct research, based on principles of statistics and epidemiology
11. Enhance personal and professional development of highest ethical standards

The training program for MSc in Military Medicine is open only to enlisted personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Force and who can be employed in all military medical establishments from advanced dressing station onwards. Prospective applicants for the Selection Examination must satisfy the following requirements.

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 clinical practice in the military health sector acceptable to the PGIM

Or

1. A four-year dental degree registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC)
2. Satisfactory completion of three years of full-time work in dental practice in the military health sector acceptable to the PGIM.

Or

1. A five-year dental degree registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC)
2. Satisfactory completion of one-year internship acceptable to the SLMC
3. Satisfactory completion of one year of post internship in dental practice in the military health sector acceptable to the PGIM

Notes:

• The criteria prescribed above must have been 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.
• Foreign nationals who apply for the course should obtain clearance from the Ministry of Defense, Sri Lanka prior to applying.

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