Medical group calls on all MPs to support proposed amendments to Medical Act 1971

KUCHING (July 15): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is calling on all MPs to support the proposed amendments to the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50), which is scheduled to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat today.

MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz said the amendments are crucial for resolving the ongoing parallel pathway issue and addressing the critical shortage of medical specialists in the country.

“The amendment aims to enable both parallel pathway and masters programmes to run concurrently, addressing the gap between these two routes to specialisation. This will provide more opportunities for medical officers to pursue specialised training.

“The changes seek to streamline the process of recognising and registering medical specialists who have obtained their qualifications through various pathways, including international qualifications like the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Ed),” she said in a statement today.

Dr Azizan said it is crucial that all specialist qualifications recognition and registration remain under the ambit of the profession via the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).

According to her, this ensures that high standards of medical education and practice are maintained.

She further pointed out that the amendments aim to resolve conflicts between various regulatory bodies, ensuring all specialist training programmes meet national accreditation standards.

“By recognising a wider range of qualifications, we can increase the number of qualified specialists available to serve in public healthcare facilities.

“The amendment will provide more diverse training pathways for medical officers, potentially reducing the brain drain of medical professionals from Malaysia.

“With more specialists available, we anticipate improved healthcare services, reduced wait times and more timely treatment for patients,” she said.

Dr Azizan said MMA acknowledged concerns about maintaining the quality of specialist training, emphasising that these amendments aim to uphold high standards while addressing urgent healthcare needs.

Given this, she said they support the Health Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that the quality of training, competency of practitioners and patient safety remain protected.

“The amendment to the Medical Act 1971 is essential for ensuring that every Malaysian has access to high-quality, specialised medical care.

“The MMA believes that these amendments, coupled with proper implementation and oversight, will strengthen our healthcare system and benefit the nation as a whole,” she added.

Dr Azizan said MMA hopes that with passage of these amendments, more doctors will take up specialisation, which is critically needed by the country.

She said doctors will have the opportunity to choose whichever pathway suits them best, thereby retaining local talents within the system and in the country.

“We urge MPs to consider the long-term benefits of this amendment and to vote in favour of it, keeping in mind the best interests of our healthcare system, the Malaysian public and the future of medical education in our country,” she added.