The objective of Doctors' Day in Malaysia is to build closer ties between patients and their doctors, and to recognise the contributions of doctors to the lives of local individuals and communities. — Filepic
Doctors’ Day was first launched in Malaysia by the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM) on Oct 10, 2014.
The day started with a community service project, which included health screenings, an exhibition, and a blood and organ donation drive at Aeon Mall Kinta City in Ipoh, followed by inter-state games, a public forum on “Stress and drugs”, talks on Citizen’s Action in Response to Emergencies (CARE) at home and insulin therapy, and culminated with a dinner.
The objective of the day is to build closer ties between patients and their doctors, and to recognise the contributions of doctors to the lives of individuals and communities.
Different countries, different dates
Doctors’ day was first launched in 1933 in Winder, Georgia, in the United States, by Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr Charles Almond, and the Auxiliary to the Barrow County Medical Society (ABCMS).
The date chosen was March 30, which was the day that Dr Crawford W. Long first used ether anaesthesia in surgery in Jefferson, Georgia, in 1842.
The ABCMS stated that the object of the day “to be the well-being and honour of the profession, its observance demanding some act of kindness, gift or tribute in remembrance of the doctors”.
The US House of Representatives passed a resolution in 1958 observing Doctors’ Day, and the US Congress declared March 30 their National Doctors’ Day in 1990.
The latter was signed into law by then US President George HW Bush on Oct 30, 1990.
Traditionally, a card or red carnation is sent to doctors and their spouses, along with a flower being placed on the graves of deceased doctors.
Since 2014, Doctors’ Day has been celebrated annually by the FPMPAM.
The Malaysian Medical Association, supported by the Health Ministry, followed suit in 2020.
Many countries celebrate Doctors Day. However, the date varies as can be seen by the US and Malaysia.
For example, it is also March 30 in Australia, but Feb 27 in Vietnam, May 1 in Canada, July 1 in India, Aug 19 in China, Oct 24 in Indonesia, and Dec 3 in Cuba.
Improving private healthcare
The FPMPAM is the first national medical organisation to organise outreach programmes to improve public health.
It is a national medical organisation comprising state private medical practitioners’ associations.
Its members include the oldest medical societies in the country, of which the Penang Medical Practitioners Society (PMPS) is the oldest.
The PMPS was founded in 1932 to represent doctors in dealing with the then colonial government.
The Private Medical Practitioners Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur was founded in 1961 to unite all private medical professionals in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Its vision is to become a platform for private practitioners to voice common complaints, connect with one another, and to lobby for positive changes in the healthcare industry.
The FPMPAM, which was founded in 1989, represents the interests of private practitioners – both specialist and general practitioners – in interactions with the government, the Malaysian Medical Council and civil society.
It is committed to improving the quality of private healthcare through continuing medical education, continuing professional development of its members, ethics advocacy, and public outreach programmes.
Outreach programmes
The FPMPAM started its DrsWhoCare programme in 2002 to provide a second chance in life to recovering drug addicts.
This involved doctors and addiction medicine experts who started Malaysia’s first community-based treatment programme, which was closely monitored by an internet-based treatment registry to prevent abuse of treatment.
The programme soon involved the participation of hundreds of private medical practitioners who have helped thousands of drug addicts with a second chance to get their lives back, reconnect with their families and become useful members of society.
This programme gave birth to the Addiction Medicine Association of Malaysia (AMAM) in 2005.
AMAM’s role is providing training to doctors to increase the capacity of community-based medical treatment networks for drug addiction.
Since its formation, AMAM has operated as FPMPAM’s sister organisation.
Meanwhile, FPMPAM’s CARE was established in 2006 in partnership with St John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM).
CARE provides education programmes to share knowledge with healthcare professionals and the public about the appropriate use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in emergencies.
This was extended to include training in the use of automated electrical defibrillators (AEDs) to provide more comprehensive skills set to save lives.
The FPMPAM’s Doctors for All (DRsforALL) outreach programme was launched at the Orang Asli hospital in Gombak, Selangor, on Jan 10, 2019, by the then Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.
The programme involves the provision of medical clinics for the Orang Asli/Orang Asal in remote areas throughout the country.
The first such clinic was conducted in an unutilised government clinic in Pos Lenjang, Kampung Dayok, in Jelai/Ulu Lipis, Pahang.
The FPMPAM’s usage of this clinic was facilitated by Dr Lee.
The facilities in the clinic in Kg Dayok have been extended to the provision of basic emergency care with basic emergency equipment powered by a solar energy system for 24-hour functionality and telemedicine services.
Some young Orang Asli/Orang Asal (OA) have been provided training through a Medic OA vocational training programme that enables them to man the clinic 24/7.
All the Medic OA have passed Basic Life Saving certified by the SJAM.
They are recertified annually with the objective of developing them as trainers.
Similar medical camps have also been held in Kg Cerewes, Pos Titom, Ulu Lipis, Pahang; Kota Belud, Sabah; and Tebudu, Sarawak.
The FPMPAM’s vision is to ensure sustainability and empower the OA community, who, despite being the original inhabitants of Malaysia, have the worst health indicators.
Doctors’ contributions
Doctors’ Day is the day to spare a thought and honour the ones who see us through our health problems all year round.
Their dedication and duty, in general, have always put the patient first.
The medical profession has made significant contributions to the health of individuals and communities.
Nowhere was the contribution more poignant than during the Covid-19 pandemic in which some doctors made the ultimate sacrifice, i.e. their lives.
As such, any reasonable person would find it difficult to understand why the workforce issues of junior doctors still remain unresolved.
Dr Milton Lum is a past president of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations and the Malaysian Medical Association. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The views expressed do not represent that of organisations that the writer is associated with. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
