KUALA LUMPUR: Passed Medical Act amendments will be implemented ‘as soon as possible’ while the timeline is being worked out, said Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said he will defend the amended act together with his deputy in the upcoming Dewan Negara sitting.
“I will be practical and honest about this. We hope to implement it as soon as possible, that is as much as I can say.
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“Once we have an idea of the timeline, we will inform,” he said when asked whether the bill can be implemented this year during a press conference held in Institut Jantung Negara on Monday (22 July).
He noted that there are still outstanding issues with the four graduates whose applications to be listed in the National Specialist Register were rejected.
The Medical Act 1971 Amendment Bill 2024 which clarifies the parallel pathway for specialist studies was passed by Dewan Rakyat last week.
Separately, on the National Health Fund, he said that the ministry has been in active engagement with various stakeholders about the fund.
“We have already engaged with important stakeholders like the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara, EPF and also the private sector, Bursa,” he said.
He also said that the National Health Fund is beyond the consolidated fund or tax sources, but also mobilising other sources of funding, and this would plug the inefficient spending.
Dr Dzulkefly said during Parliament last week that the ministry is considering the fund for better healthcare financing.
Funds will be pooled from various sources including tax revenue, non-tax revenue and funds from the ministry’s enforcement activities including from sugar-sweetened beverages tax, he said.
The framework of the fund will come soon, he added.
