KUALA LUMPUR: The tabling of amendments to the Medical Act 1971 will streamline the irregularities linked to the specialist training issues involving parallel pathways and local master’s degrees, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Bill is expected to be tabled in the third week of the current meeting.
“Various engagements have been held with different stakeholders.
“The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has reviewed the draft Bill and... it will be brought to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Health.
“We’ll table the blue Bill in the third week, and pass it in the fourth week (of the current meeting)," he said, adding that the engagement sessions included the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
He was speaking during Minister’s Question Time on Thursday (June 27) in response to Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat).
Dr Ahmad Yunus had asked the minister to explain the differences between local specialist training and the parallel pathway programme, and the total sponsorship costs incurred by the government for this purpose.
“Parallel pathway programmes are conducted by the Health Ministry in accordance with international standards, while local Master’s programmes are offered by local universities.
“To date, there are 120 local Master’s programmes in medicine offered by nine universities and 14 specialities for parallel pathway programmes,” Dr Dzulkefly said.
He also said that to date, 6,933 medical officers have received government scholarships for specialist training – 6,142 for local Master’s programmes and 791 for the parallel pathway.
He added that the government has spent a total of RM10mil for parallel pathway scholarships and RM142.4mil for local Master’s programmes.
He also said 2,622 medical officers are undergoing the parallel pathway without scholarship.
