PETALING JAYA: Expressing concern over the legality of the parallel pathway programme (PPP), a group of 10 academics, NGOs and medical practitioners has called for the proposed amendment to the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) to be postponed.
The group had sent a memorandum detailing their concerns and calling for the postponement of the Bill's tabling to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Health on July 10.
“There is no need to amend Act 50. The Health Ministry must adhere to all national laws to allow qualifications to be registered in the Malaysian Qualification Register (MQR) and PPP (parallel pathway programme) trainee specialists as well as graduates to be registered in the NSR (National Specialist Register),” the group said in the memorandum.
"The government should strengthen the expertise of programmes from local universities rather than granting leniency to foreign qualifications not recognised in their home country," they said.
The memorandum also said this complication would not occur if each government agency such as the Higher Education Ministry, the Health Ministry, and medical associations and colleges played their respective roles
"We are concerned about the legal definitions brought by the Health Ministry in justifying the amendment to Act 50. Therefore, we suggest that the judicial review concerning graduate doctors from the cardiothoracic PPP continue. Let the courts decide,” it added.
The group also requested that the PSSC on Health, chaired by Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat, inform Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and MPs about the existence of the Independent Committee Report for the Review of Medical Specialist Training Programmes 2023, chaired by Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan.
"The Independent Committee Report must be used in resolving this crisis because the report indicated that the issues can be resolved by following existing laws,” it added.
“We hope the Health Minister will postpone the presentation of amendments to Act 50 in Parliament until a detailed study can be conducted so that all doctors who have graduated from PPP and those currently pursuing PPP can be registered in the National Specialists Register (NSR) without the need for amendments to Act 50,” the group said.
The group also said the amendments proposed by the ministry are dangerous to the safety of the people because there is no legal oversight of PPPs on how a specialist is trained and the programme is recognised, adding that the basis of regulation must be from an independent body.
It said relying on individuals within the Malaysian Medical Council without being bound by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) Act will open the way for abuse of power in granting recognition to specialist qualifications.
"Relying on the minister's power also opens the possibility of abuse of power.
"Existing regulations for entry into the NSR are clear that every specialist needs further training after they obtain their qualification, which takes one or two years after the degree is awarded.
“The proposed amendment, a saving clause for those who graduate from PPP to be directly included in the NSR, is dangerous,” it said.
As part of its recommendations, the group said all international qualifications must comply with Malaysian laws, just like local specialist training programmes provided by local universities.
"All medical expertise qualifications, whether obtained locally or abroad, must go through the MQA accreditation process to be registered within the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR) before being recognised by MMC, as a 'recognised specialist qualification'," the group said.
It added that the Public Services Department depends on the MQR for recognition to allow government employment.
"A person cannot be appointed as a medical specialist in the government if their qualifications are not listed in the MQR.
“The Higher Education Ministry, Universities Consortium, Health Ministry, and Medical Academies must collaborate to enhance local medical expertise programmes and develop new programmes as necessary,” it said.
The signatories of the memorandum are Dr Dayang Anita Abdul Aziz, National Council of Women’s Organisations Malaysia (NCWO); Freida Pilus, National Council of Women’s Organisations Malaysia (NCWO); Prof Dr Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar, Society of Thoracic Surgeons of Malaysia; Prof Dr Zainuddin Wazir, Majlis Perundingan Melayu; Prof Dr Tahir Azhar; Prof Dr Noor Hashim Ismail; Dr Zarida Hambali, former Higher Education Department director; Dr Abdul Razzak Mohd Said, former member of MMC's medical education committee; Prof Dr Yang Faridah Abdul Aziz, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya; and Prof Dr Mohd Zamrin Dimon, director, Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah.
On June 8, the MQA said it was not directly involved in the controversy surrounding the registration of medical doctors who have obtained specialist qualifications through the “parallel pathway” training programme.
MQA chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran said that the authority to accept or reject the registration and certification of medical practitioners, including medical specialists, lies with the MMC.
