Healthcare News Asia | Medical Industry Updates & Events
- Hundreds of medical graduates trained through the parallel pathway are now a step closer to joining the National Specialists Register (NSR) in Malaysia.
- Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad signed a ministerial order enforcing amendments to the Medical Act of 1971.
- Dzulkefly announced via social media that the order will be submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers for gazetting.
Malaysia is streamlining its path for medical graduates, recognizing the crucial role of specialists in healthcare. A ministerial order enforcing amendments to the Medical Act of 1971 will broaden the recognition of qualifications,promptly impacting hundreds of medical graduates.The decision directly addresses specialist shortages, promising improved healthcare access for patients. Discover the latest updates on the Medical (Amendment) Bill 2024 passage and its impact. This move, applauded by stakeholders, aims to cut patient waiting times. News Directory 3 brings you the most up-to-date medical sector news. What does this mean for patient care and future specialists? Discover what’s next for Malaysia’s healthcare landscape.
Malaysia Streamlines Path for Medical Graduates, Recognizes Specialist Role
Hundreds of medical graduates trained through the parallel pathway are now a step closer to joining the National Specialists Register (NSR) in Malaysia. This ends a yearlong period of uncertainty for these medical professionals.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad signed a ministerial order enforcing amendments to the Medical Act of 1971. the changes, set to take effect July 1, will broaden the Malaysian Medical Council’s recognition of qualifications, encompassing foreign universities involved in training parallel pathway specialists. This decision addresses the critical role of specialists in the healthcare system.
Dzulkefly announced via social media that the order will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for gazetting. He emphasized that the amendment aims to improve Malaysia’s healthcare future.
According to Dzulkefly, the changes will allow both the parallel pathway and master’s programs to be implemented transparently and in accordance with existing laws. This will help address the shortage of specialists.
Senator RA Lingeshwaran, a proponent of the reform, praised the minister for fulfilling his commitment to resolve the issue.He stated this decision is a victory for specialists previously unable to register due to bureaucratic hurdles. Lingeshwaran added that the move will reduce patient waiting times to see specialists in hospitals.
The Medical (Amendment) Bill 2024 passed last July, following pressure from professional groups and members of Parliament. The amendments address the Malaysian Medical Council’s previous refusal to recognize certain parallel pathway programs, including cardiothoracic surgery qualifications from the Royal Collage of Surgeons of Edinburgh, despite a shortage of specialists in government hospitals.
What’s next
With the amendments coming into force, the focus shifts to implementing the new regulations and ensuring a smooth transition for medical graduates seeking registration as specialists. The changes are expected to alleviate specialist shortages and improve healthcare access for patients across Malaysia.