NEXT week, on Sept 12 and 13, 18 doctors who are working towards their specialisation in radiology will sit for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) examination in Malaysia.
To be held at the new RCR Global Examination Centre at the KPJ Healthcare University (KPJU) campus in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, the local hosting of this exam, administered by Britain’s Royal College of Radiologists, is a milestone for the university.
Dr Lokman: Malaysian candidates get to sit for the FRCR exam without having to travel overseas. — Photos: RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The StarOver the last year, KPJU and the College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine Malaysia have collaborated towards this, successfully bringing it to fruition this month.
The FRCR examination is a professional qualification essential for career progression in clinical radiology in many countries.
KPJU vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Lokman Saim says the establishment of this new centre in Malaysia offers an easier pathway as part of the country’s radiology specialist training.
“There are already RCR Global Examination Centres established in Singapore, Hong Kong and India, and with Malaysia joining this list, Malaysian candidates get to sit for the exam without having to travel overseas,” he says.
“I believe this makes it smoother for the country to produce more radiologists, because the professional examination is conducted right at the candidates’ doorstep,” he adds.
“It is a step forward in Malaysia’s medical education.”
KPJU is the education arm of KPJ Healthcare, the country’s leading private healthcare provider with an impressive network of 29 specialist hospitals that support its unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services.
A solid groundwork
KPJU is among the seven local universities that are already offering the Master of Radiology programme.
Dr Thajunnisa: The RCR Global Exam Centre is a recognition of the facilities and high standards of the radiology training programme at KPJ specialist hospitals.Taught by its team of radiologists, this has laid a solid groundwork for a successful partnership with RCR.
KPJU Master of Radiology programme coordinator Assoc Prof Dr Thajunnisa Hassan says this RCR Global Exam Centre is also a recognition of the excellent facilities and high standards of the radiology training programme conducted at KPJ specialist hospitals.
“There are three parts of the examination, and each one is carried out several times in a year,” she adds.
“But for this first batch of candidates, we are only taking 18 to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
“All the slots were instantly taken up the moment registration opened,” she says.
Prof Dr Lokman says KPJU had to fulfil certain requirements by RCR for it to be one of the Global Examination Centres.
“This includes good IT infrastructure and a stable Internet connection, among others,”
Assoc Prof Dr Thajunnisa says a solid infrastructure is crucial since the exam is taken globally by all candidates, at the same time.
“In that sense, we’re also lucky because the time difference between Malaysia and Britain is seven hours, so the exam starts at 4pm here,” she adds.
An important catalyst
Dr Norlisah: The Covid-19 pandemic was a strong catalyst to have the examination conducted here.College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine Malaysia president Prof Dr Norlisah Mohd Ramli says the Covid-19 pandemic was a strong catalyst to have the examination conducted here.
She says during that phase, some candidates couldn’t travel to take their exam, while others had the validity of their exam results nullified because they couldn’t take the following part within the stipulated period.
“We talked to Dr Katherine Halliday (current president of RCR) about this and realised that we have to find a way to have the exam conducted in Malaysia,” she adds.
The establishment of the RCR Global Examination Centre at KPJ Healthcare University – the first such centre in Malaysia – marks a significant milestone in the country’s healthcare education.
The move reinforces KPJ Healthcare’s commitment to excellence in medical training and specialist development.
“This is a proud moment for all of us, and I believe for the country too, as we move towards boosting Malaysia’s healthcare services by producing well-trained specialists,” Prof Dr Lokman concludes.
For more information, visit kpju.edu.my and www.rcr.ac.uk.
