KUALA LUMPUR: The much-anticipated amendments to the Medical Act, which aim to resolve the conflict related to the parallel pathway programme, have been passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 17).
Several MPs participated in the debate on the bill, which seeks to amend provisions related to the registration of specialists and the recognition of qualifications and specialised training.
Changes in the composition of the Malaysian Medical Council(MMC) members have also been proposed.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad gave his assurances that amendments to the Act will be enforced as soon as possible after it was gazetted.
“I understand the dynamics and flow of the matter.
“Many have argued that it is as if the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) is taking power from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and that the quality of specialists will be compromised.
“These are irresponsible statements.
“When we speak about enforcement, amendments to the Act in 2012 took five years to materialise through the establishment of the MMC and NSR.
“But my commitment is that we will do this as soon as possible. Not in five years hopefully,” he said in response to Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat).
Dzulkefly also reiterated that the authority recognising specialists lay with the MMC and not the MQA.
The minister also repeatedly read aspects agreed on following the outcome of a meeting between the Health Ministry and MQA.
“MQA’s letter itself mentioned that the authority to recognise parallel pathway programme graduates from international universities will lie with the Health Ministry as agreed on in an MQA council meeting dated March 20, 2018.
“All this while, there has been no contention on this and only those who do not understand the topic will demand for accreditation to be done anyways.
“Imagine...it's already difficult to provide accreditation for masters programmes, what more the parallel pathway programme.
“It's clear that it is not MQA’s duty to do so,” he said in his winding up speech to debates.
This was in response to Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) who repeatedly interjected Dzulkefly’s winding up speech by saying prospective specialists had to go through the MQA.
He also assured the quality of specialist as graduates from both the Master’s Programme and parallel pathway will be subjected to a panel of assessors.
On the composition of MMC members, whereby representatives from universities have been reduced, he said this is because 66% of doctors are from the Health Ministry.
He said the diversity in the composition of MMC council members will ensure checks and balances.
“The defining factor is that the person elected or appointed must not only be an expert in their field but also as a policy maker. They must have not only clinical acumen but also political acumen to solve problems and to enhance healthcare services,” he said.
The Bill was tabled for the second reading on Tuesday (July 16) and passed on Wednesday (July 17).
It was tabled the for the first reading on Monday (July 15).
