Time to reform the healthcare system by electing the MMC president, says Dr Azizan

PETALING JAYA: It is time to make meaningful reforms in the healthcare system, starting with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), says Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz.

The Malaysian Medical Association president said the MMC president’s position should be decided by election and not through appointment.

"Likewise, the composition of the MMC council members should consist of at least 80% elected representatives," she said in a statement on Thursday (April 4).

Dr Azizan said the voting system for MMC via postal ballots was outdated.

She suggested that the voting process should be simplified through digitalisation, in line with the Health Ministry’s digital health transformation agenda.

"Currently, the inconvenience is discouraging among the medical fraternity to cast their ballot.

"Each time when elections were held, only 10% voted from the close to 70,000 registered medical practitioners," she added.

Dr Azizan said this in response to the proposed amendments to the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) to address the issues concerning parallel pathway recognition.

She also applauded the Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad for his leadership in proactively addressing these issues.

"While we await the proposed amendments to Act 50 to address the issue, it would be timely for the minister to also review the Medical Act towards meaningful reforms in the healthcare system, starting with reforms to MMC," she said.

On April 2, the Health Ministry said it would request the Cabinet to expedite the proposed amendments to Act 50 to enable those who have successfully completed their training under the parallel pathway programme to register as specialists.

Dr Dzulkefly said this was to address the shortage of medical specialists serving in public hospitals.