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A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS ASSOCIATION OF SRI LANKA
The Independent Medical Practitioners Association (IMPA) of Sri Lanka is the oldest national organization of general practitioners in the whole world. It was established in 1929.
The national organizations of general practitioners in other parts of the world were established only after World War II. The United States of America was second in the field in 1947 the United Kingdom followed in 1952 and several other countries thereafter. The IMPA is a medico political body, with academic general practice as a subsidiary interest, while the other national organizations established elsewhere, were mainly academic bodies.As an act of faith in academic general practice, the College of General Practitioners was created by the IMPA in the early seventies. This was subsequently incorporated by Parliament in 1974 and began to function independently of the IMPA.
The main objectives of the IMPA over the years, have been to –
- Safeguard and further the interests and status of its members as a body.
- Discuss medical topics relating to the welfare of the community at large.
- Promote and encourage corporation and loyalty among members in the best interests of the profession.
- Further scientific knowledge and maintain professional and ethical standards.
- Provide and promote social amenities for its members.
In 2004 the IMPA celebrated its 75th anniversary. The anniversary of the IMPA is a time to dust the pages of history. It provides an opportunity to obtain a useful measure of the enduring significance of persons and events that shaped its history.
We share Thomas Carlyle’s view that “history is the essence of innumerable biographies”. Though many of the members of the IMPA have made a significant contribution to its development over the years, the inspired presidents of the past and a single secretary are the persons who gave this organization direction, purpose, and guidance.
The Presidents in the 1M PA were giants, who not only made their contribution to medicine but also guided the state by participating in other fields of activity as well.
Past Presidents and some Historical Landmarks of the IMPA
Dr. E.V.Ratnam (1929 to 1950) – Founder President.
Sir Frank Gunasekera (1950 to 1951)
Dr. M.C.M. Kaleel (1952 to 1963)
Dr.A.D.P.A. Wijegoonewardene (1963 to 1968)
Dr. A.M.Fernando ( 1969 to 1970)
Dr. R.P.Wijeratne(1970 to 1971)
During his Presidency, a temporary abode for the IMPA was provided when it moved from Dr. Heennilame’s dispensary in Colombo 10, to the IMPA Drug Centre, Galle Road, Dehiwela.
Dr.M.P.M.Cooray (1971 to 1975)
Dr B D J de Silva (1976-1978)
Dr. Hector Jayalath (1978-1979)
Dr.M.S.M.Refai (1980-1981)
Dr. Peter Kannangara (1982-1988)
During his period a permanent Home was obtained for the IMPA Office in June 1982, which is the present site by leasing a room in the Building Complex of the OPA.
Dr.Bernard de Zoysa (1989 -1991)
During his Presidency the following activities took place:A weekly health column was published in the press. The issue of identity cards to IMPA members which proved useful in times of civil strife., The issuing for the first time of IMPA Membership Certificates,. Health Manpower deliberations, organizing fundraising with plays such as “Hunuwateya Katava”
Dr de Zoysa refurbished the IMPA Headquarters and gave it a new look.
He also recruited and trained Champa Nishanti to the IMPA Office in 1989 and she still continues there providing yeoman service.
Dr.L.L. Weerasena (1992-1993)
He began Free Health Camps in Rural Sri Lanka on 15th December 1991 ,at the Captain Seneviratne Hall, MahiyanganaThe100 Free Health Camp was held in December 2001 in memory of his late father in his home town Devinuwara with fifty two doctors Including thirty specialists, attending on six thousand five hundred patients.
The 164th Free Health Camp was held in Dehiyattakandiya on 22nd October 2004.
At each of these Free Health Camp patients who needed follow up were given referral letters to the nearby State Health
Facilities, Patients with suspected malignancies are referred to Maharagama Cancer Hospital and followed up, Several associated Service Organizations have donated reading spectacles, Jaipur Limbs, Wheel Chairs. Crutches and Hearing Aids, The very poor patients referred for specialized treatment to Colombo and Kandy were also given financial support by the service organizations.
During his twenty-four months in office as President IMPA from 1991193,every month a CME program was held after the monthly Council meeting. As the IMPA President he held a fund raising Variety Show with free participation of Sri Lanka’s famous Artists and formed a special IMPA. Health Camp Fund. .
During his tenure of office Dr Weerasena obtained the NGO Status for the IMPA.
Dr. S.R.Ratnapala – (1993 – 1995 )
During his tenure of office the following were achieved
- The IMPA was Incorporated under the Companies Act by the Registrar of Companies.
- The IMPA Newsletter was published in a new format which is being currently continued
- The Distance Learning Programme on AIDs and STD were produced
- A new regional branch was established at Kalutara and the other branches at Galle, Matara and Kandy were activated
Dr. A.D.V.Premaratne (1996 -1998)
He took charge of the Distance Learning Programme on Reproductive Health which was funded by the UNFPA. With the profits of this he upgraded the IMPA Office providing it with its first computer, new furniture etc. He also actively continued the monthly CM E Programmes and the Free Health Camps
Dr. B.G.D.Bujawansa (1999- 2000)
When he was President of the IMPA in 1999 and 2000. he
- Took up the issue of selling unregistered date expired drugs with the DRA
- Felicitated members who had completed 50 years of practice
- Staged “Maname” as a fund raiser for the IMPA
Dr. S.L.G.Jayasuriya (2001- 2004) & (2008 – 2011)
He has been responsible for conducting all its CME programmes, personally organizing CME meetings for IMPA members. The update programmes are published in the newsletter and posted to all the members of the IMPA.
He is also the President and Project Coordinator for 2 internationally funded projects of the GFATM for Tuberculosis and Malaria to educate selected groups of GP’s and the UNFPA funded STD and HIV/AIDS project.
The association derives it income from membership fees and from collections made at the CME programs. Under Dr Jayasuriya’s stewardship, the membership of the IMPA has increased from 404 in 2002 to 450 Currently,
The other activities have increased with the IMPA being awarded with the implementation of the Malaria and TB projects by the Global Funds for Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria, which involves the training of General Practitioners in the country, as a Public-Private Mix Program.
From savings obtained from these Special Projects, the IMPA has made material improvements to the office to the value of Rs. 300,000/
Dr.W.A.Ferdinand ( 2005 – 2008 )
- Monthly C.M.E Programs were continued without interruption.
- The Newsletter was published monthly.
- The G.F.A.T.M projects for Tuberculosis and Malaria were carried out successfully in different parts of the country. Groups of GPs in these areas were thus updated on these subjects.
- The IMPA constitution was revised bringing in new important clauses.
- A serious attempt was made to eliminate “Quacks”. Many lessons were learnt in the process. The Medical Council was powerless to help. The police were unable to identify Registration Certificates. Ayurveda and Homeopathy had not established their councils.
- Guidelines for minimum requirements for registration of Private Medical Practitioners with the Private Medical institutions regulatory body (Act No.21 of 2006), was drawn up and submitted to the P.H.S.R.C by the IMPA council.
Honorary Secretaries
The first honorary secretary of the IMPA was Dr. J.FJabir and he was succeeded by Dr. Kaleel. The other secretaries over the years have been Drs. K.RT.Peiris, Guy Paranavitana, R.P.Wijeatne. Lucien Gunasekara, Rex de Costa, RJ.D.Peiris, Mohideen Hassan, M.Nilar, K.Somasunderam, G.M.Heennilame, D.H.P.RSenanayake, RM.L.Fernando, Dennis J.Aloysius, I.J.Fernando, A.H.Hazari (Sr), S.A.Karunanayake, S.R.Ratnapala, Lakshman Weerasena, and A.D.V.Premaratne, B.G.D.Bujawansa, W.O.Wadugodapitiva,. K.P.Piyasena, AL.P.de S.Seneviratne, Hamza Sulaiman, D.Atukorale, AH.A.Hazari(Jr) , Dr.S.W.Samaranayake, Dr.S.A.P.Gnanissara, Dr.N.KAshubodha and Dr.C.D.Pathinayake.
In the history of the IMPA there was one very active secretary namely Dr. G.M.Heennilame who held office from 1959 for 19 long years.
Treasurers.
In the early period of the IMPA the secretaries of the IMPA used to function as treasurers. From the minute books we could gather the following were treasurers holding separate office Drs. M.C.M.Kaleel, RP.Wijeratne, Lucien Gunasekera, Kumaran Ratnam, T.Nagendra (19 years), P.Motha, KJayasekera, Bernard de Zoysa,MJ.P.Goonetilleke, L.P.V.E Jayaweera and T.PJ.Amath.
Branches of the IMPA
For nearly 5 decades of its existence the IMPA was based in Colombo. The need to spread its activities island wide to cater to the general practitioners outside Colombo was raised at several early meetings of the IMPA. It was only in1977 that the first branch of the IMPA was established in Matara. Kandy followed in 1978 but this branch has been inactive. In 1981 Chilaw/Puttalam branch was inaugurated. It later become the most active of all the branches of the IMPA, having renamed itself as the North Western Branch. In 1982 the Jaffna branch was inaugurated. This branch too has been relatively inactive.
The crest
The crest of the IMPA was designed by Dr. Sriyan Goonewardene son of Dr. Louis Goonewardene.
Headquarters of the IMPA
The IMPA had no permanent office for the greater part of its existence. The office was usually the home or the practice location of the incumbent president, till Dr. Heennilame took over as Secretary. The offices after that period were at the following situations:
- 162, Deans Road, Colombo 10 for nearly two decades. This is Dr, Heelmileme’s dispensary premises.
- R.P.Wijeratne’s Dispensary at 106, Piyadasa Sirisena Mawatha, This was used as a temporary abode during the move from Dr. Heennilame’s dispensary to the Drug Centre,
- 62, Galle Road, Dehiwala, the IMPA Drug Centre.
In 1977 the IMPA having paid Rs, 40,000 to the OPA, it obtained 400 sq. ft, of office space in the
OPA Professional Centre at Bauddhaloka Mawatha (now Prof Stanly Wijesundera Mawatha) and this serves as the IMPA office today.
Publications of the IMPA
The first newsletter of the IMPA was published in 1969. This was followed by the second in 1970, thereafter were no publications until two newsletters were published in February and October 1974. Dr. Heennilame edited these first four newsletters.
In 1976 State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) sponsored the IMPA newsletter and the newsletter was converted into the Sri Lankan Family Practitioner.
The editors of the IMPA have been Drs. G.M.Heennilame, Dennis Aloysius, Hubert Aloysius, I.J.Fernando, S .A .Karunayake, A.LP.de S.Seneviratne, S.W.Samaranayake, T.PJ.Amath, S.A.P.Gnanissara , S.M.Goonesekera and Dr.N.K.Ashubodha.
