A Decade of Experience | A Doctors Voice on Foreign Medical Placements
View(s):In spite of countless attempts to make progress in different avenues of education in Sri Lanka, there aren’t many reliable sources to educate ourselves on a subject as potential and demanding as international medical placements.DR. Harry Prasad is the Assistant General Manager for ANC Future Center, one of the very few institutions in Sri Lanka to take up the tedious task of availing overseas placement opportunities to the local student body.
ANC Future Center Medical Placements is the medical arm of ANC Education & having assigned more than 2000 students in renowned universities around the world, it has more than a decade’s expertise in the education industry fulfilling young dreams of becoming a globally recognized professional.
Below are the excerpts from the interview with Dr Harry Prasad
Tell me briefly of your journey with ANC Future Center Medical Placements?
Well the road ANC-Future Center Medical Placements has taken since its beginning is quite close to my heart as my first interaction with it was as a student. I still quite vividly remember the younger me walking down the hallways to meet up with my student counsellor with a determination to conquer the world. Fast forward to the present day I am currently responsible for that very operation and I consider it a privilege to be able to witness the growth of an organization that takes the stand to offer quality education. In a nutshell both this institution and I have moved forward alongside each other. I am personally determined to encourage and inculcate higher education in Sri Lanka as I believe that every student deserves the privilege. I am proud to be a part of an institution which shares my values and works in full force to make it a reality to the younger generation of our country.
What sets apart ANC Future Center Medical Placements from the rest?
If I did answer that in brief, I would be failing the great team effort that makes it all happen. It is impossible to pick out a single person or procedure that makes it work but I will say this much, the whole operation works in sync and most importantly works with a conscious reminder that we are the mediator for shaping the future of many hopes and dreams and with that kind of responsibly we put nothing but our best foot forward.
As a foreign medical graduate myself, now practising in Sri Lanka I believe I too am able to apply my knowledge and exposure in full scope to ensure that ANC Future Center Medical Placements vision for this team is fulfilled.
ANC Future Center Medical Placements aspires to be is the first name that comes to mind for international medical placements and I am confident that we have achieved this in Colombo and the suburbs. We are now ready to do the same in other major cities situated outside the commercial capital. We have in the past facilitated many students based outside of Colombo but consider it would be more convenient for anybody who wants to reach us to not have to make a trip all the way to Colombo. Everybody has the right to access correct, timely and relevant information that is offered in a professional setting and we are the people for the job.
We are of course a business but first and foremost we are a centre for higher education and we represent the medical fraternity. Therefore, we have a firm standpoint to conduct our business with integrity and respect for our students and this means no hidden payments or anything that will take them by surprise. In fact, I am confident we are a most reasonable direct placement centre in Sri Lanka.
What is the vision ANC Future Center Medical Placements has set for 2019?
The concentration for this year is to expand our reach as we are now resourced to offer our services to cities outside Colombo. This initiative was actioned in response to many requests we have received over the years by students and parents alike. We are currently in the process of rolling out operations in our branches situated in Kandy, Negombo, Kadawatha and Wattala and we are overwhelmed by all the support that has come our way, it is a great feeling to know that we have created such a positive vibe for our institution and the principles we stand for.
2019 is all about new experiences and challenges. I am sure you have noticed the ANC branding along Maya avenue to complement the latest addition to our corporate office. The ANC Medical Placements will now be the venue in which we host our student interactions and events and we believe an in-house centre would give us the scope to have more informative and educational forums for our current students as well as anyone who wishes to join us.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire team for all the hard work they put in day in and out and the executive management for the confidence they had in us all through the whole journey. And most importantly my sincere gratitude to all the students and parents for their support along throughout the years.
What is your advice to someone considering overseas education?
It is vital that your overseas degree is endorsed by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and if you wish to practice internationally, by other endorsing bodies around the world such as the ECFMG in USA, GMC in UK & AMC in Australia. This endorsement is a must for all our partnering universities.
Your budget too plays a key role in your placements. We have universities that offer their MD for Rs. 4 million rupees as well as universities that go as high as Rs.40 million. What one must realize is that each of these fees are arrived at considering the hosting countries political and commercial policies as well as the operational expenses of the university and their profit allocations. Therefore, if a degree is offered at a lesser cost it does not mean that you will have to compromise your education in any aspect. In fact, it is not about where you learn, but how you learn and how you learn is totally in your hands.
Relating to the tenure as a student I must also urge students to never go by another’s past experience or recommendations as you are gambling on an investment of six years and a substantial value in terms of your finances. We at ANC Future Center Medical Placements have a detailed process in place in which we not only assist in General University Registrations but Entrance Interview Mentorships via skype, Admission Processes and Document Translations or any other related support a student requires. All this is achieved while providing Referrals of Past Graduates, Networking Events and Organising university tours and visits for parents and potential students. ANC Future Center medical placements definitely plays an important role during student orientation and familiarization and throughout the entire stay as an overseas student.
As I highlighted before we are primarily an institute for career guidance. Therefore I welcome anybody who wishes to pursue a career in medicine to call over at any of our offices for a quick run through of what we have to offer you.
Find Us!
Dr Harry Prasad : 0777 30 10 80
Website: www.ancmedicalplacements.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ancmedicalplacements /
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anc_medical_placements/
Twitter: ANC_FC_Medical
- Visit Us!
- ANC Education No: 308-310, R. A. D Mel Mawatha, Colombo 03.
- ANC Future Center No: 30, Queens Road, Colombo 03.
- ANC Medical Placements No: 111 1/2, Maya Avenue, Colombo 06.
- ANC Branch Campus Kandy No: 322, Peradeniya Road, Kandy.
- ANC Future Center (Negombo) No: 440/1/1, Colombo Road, 2nd Kurana, Negombo.
- ANC Future Center (Kadawatha) No: 144/1E, Sumito Building, Kandy Road, Kadawatha.
- ANC Future Center (Wattala) No: 149, Colombo – Negombo Road, Wattala.
- ANC Future Center (Galle) No. 66, Colombo Road, Kaluwella, Galle.
- ANC Future Center (Kurunagala) No: 64, Siripathi complex, Bauddhaloka MW, Kurunegala