Medical course freeze gets nod

KUALA LUMPUR: The five-year freeze on new medical courses at institutions of higher learning has been approved by the Cabinet effective May 1.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who made the announcement, said it was an immediate measure to prevent houseman glut from becoming worse and to ensure more focus on quality.

Mohamed Khaled had given the assurance in December about the freeze or moratorium on medical programmes.

Yesterday, he said the moratorium would not affect the number of medical staff required by the country.

“We are looking at a doctor-patient ratio of 1:400 by the year 2020, which fulfils the requirement of an advanced nation. From the number of students currently enrolled at the 33 higher education institutions nationwide, we can achieve that target,” he said after signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Open University Malaysia and Master Builders Association Malaysia yesterday.

Mohamed Khaled added that the current doctor-patient ratio is 1:1000.

He said the reasons for this move included the increasing number of medical graduates and the lack of academic staff and training hospitals to produce competent housemen.

The move, he added, was a joint effort between the ministries of Higher Education and Health. It is similar to a moratorium last July which stopped the establishment of new nursing colleges and prohibited the launch of diploma programmes in nursing.

On Nov 27, The Star highlighted concerns about a glut on the number of housemen and the quality of fresh medical graduates.

Subsequently, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 6 about plans for the moratorium.

When contacted, Malaysian Medical Association president Dr David Quek said: “This is an extremely good move because there are now too many new courses being offered in such a short span of time. What the ministry has done will help to ensure that quality doctors are produced.”