THE OPEN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
It
is an International Organization formed in 1962 congruent
to the policy objectives of the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. In 1962 The WHO and
UNICEF sponsored an International Conference in USSR at Alma Ata, at the University
of Khazakstan. At this conference the ALMA ATA DECLARATION defined a global strategy for public
health and
preventive medicine which epitomized as "HEALTH FOR ALL BY 2000 A.D."
This strategy
entails the use of all available healing methods both orthodox and traditional and The Open International University was formed as an international society under the
guidelines of THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, and registered under the legal enactments of USSR
in Alma Ata in 1962. Its membership was limited to those who limited to those
who attended that meeting. Delegates from 46 countries were represented. The first
Chairman was
Prof. V. Inyushin of the Department of Biophysics of the University of Khazakstan in USSR. The
co-chairman was Prof. Dr. Jos Schade, the celebrated neurologist from Holland.
A Summary of aims is as follows :-
(1) To advance the scientific study and professional practice of Medicines, by encouraging its development by promoting research, living high standards of professional ethics, competence, conduct, education, qualification and achievement among practitioners.
(2) To carry out the promotion and the dissemination of knowledge and philosophy of Medicines through local and International Meeting, lectures, seminars, workshops, reports, papers, discussions, publications and professional contacts.
(3) To encourage a wide interest among the public and
Medicines and all
ancillary areas of knowledge and practice. This mandate has now been conferred
on the Senate of The Open International University.
Alma Ata declaration emphasizes primary health care which has been
described as "Essential
health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable
methods and
technology, made universally accessible to individuals and families of the
community through
their full participation and at a cost that a community and a country can afford
to maintain at
every stage of their development, in the spirit of self reliance and self
determination. " *
Primary health care practice is based on the special training and scientific
orientation provided to
health care workers including physicians, nurses, midwives, auxiliary and
community workers
and traditional medical practitioners. Therefore "The Open
International University" under the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION guidelines have
established procedures and regulations outlining the Code of Ethics that healers
are expected to
allow, consequent to their training and
certification by "The Open International University". However, practitioners are governed by
legislation and
regulations which are appropriate to their country in which they hold
registration, in addition to the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is a
general guideline to all practitioners. Under
the auspices, the various regional associations
have instituted training courses, Symposia and World Congresses in all five
continents and in over one hundred countries in the past quarter of a century.
As candidates from many countries of the world found it difficult to attend the
courses held in
Khazakstan, it was decided to transfer the main base to western
Europe. Some years later, the subsequent (second) Chairman (Prof. Dr.
Jos Schade, M.D., Ph.D) transferred the organization to the Netherlands (Houten,
City of Utrecht ' Dr. S. Yasuda being the first Patron). However, persons from Third World
countries and developing nations could not easily avail of the training programs in the
various
medicine disciplines made available through the organization in Western Europe
because of
expensive living costs. In order to make this knowledge accessible to a larger
population, and
especially to those in economically less well off countries, it was decided to
move the base to Sri Lanka which is now affiliated to "The Open
International University"
with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka.
For about the past two decades "The Open
International University Colombo" has been based
in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) under the Chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya. Congruent to
the objectives of the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION and the Government of Sri Lanka and The Open International University conduct training
programs in Western and other complementary forms of
medicines.
These are conducted in collaboration with the Academy of Science, at the
Institute of
Rheumatology, Laser therapy at the Colombo South Government General Hospital, at Kalubowila, Sri Lanka, Over 29,000 students from 120
countries have been taught complementary medicine to date.
Thus, it was decided in 1987 to constitute The Open International University with special emphasis to conduct an intensive
clinical training
program. The Sri Lanka Government was requested to enact legislation to enable
The Open
International University to be constituted as a privately funded postgraduate
institute in March,
1988 onwards, degrees are being conferred and training courses are being
conducted under the
U.N. theme "Health for all by the year 2000". The Open International
University and other
affiliated Institutes form part of this worldwide endeavor to improve
educational and public
health facilities by the year 2000 A.D., H. E. the President of Sri Lanka by
Letter No. 196/1 of 25th March, 1988 recognized the Open International University as a privately funded
body. This Institute does not get any funding
from The University Grants Commission and is a privately funded seat of post graduate studies. It is
therefore, not listed under the University grants commission.
His Excellency J. R.Jayewardene, former President of Sri Lanka, has kindly
consented (in August
1989) to be the Honorary Patron of this University. Prof. Dr. Sir Stanley Cook
is the International Chancellor. Eardly Perera Esqr, President's Counsel, is the
chief legal advisor.