KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts are underway to amend the Medical Regulations 2017 to facilitate the registration of more specialists, the Dewan Rakyat was informed.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad explained that this would enable the enforcement of the Medical Act 1971, which was amended earlier this year.
He noted that various workshops have been held to prepare draft amendments, while engaging with multiple stakeholders.
These include the Malaysian Medical Council, Malaysian Qualifications Agency, Academy of Medicine Malaysia, and specialist heads under the Health Ministry.
"As the process of registering and recognising specialists is a complex issue, the ministry takes into account views from all related bodies to ensure a practical outcome," he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Dec 10).
Dzulkefly also mentioned that the drafts have been presented to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for fine-tuning and finalisation.
"I have also been made to understand that the process is currently in the final stages and I am targeting for it to be completed by the end of January.
We want this to be hastened so those with qualified training but left out from the National Specialist Register can be included in the register," he said.
Dzulkefly was responding to a question from Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) regarding updates to the Medical Act 1971 following its amendments.
On July 18, the Dewan Rakyat passed amendments to the Medical Act following public debates within the medical fraternity.
This came as a resolution to the conflict surrounding the parallel pathway training programme as well as the registration of specialists and recognition of their training.
