PETALING JAYA: The amendments to the Medical Act, which aims to resolve the issue of parallel pathway programmes and streamline the recognition of qualifications and specialised training, will come into effect on July 1, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said he had signed the order to enforce the amendments to the Act, which will be resubmitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) for the gazettement process.
"God willing, these amendments will come into effect on July 1," he said in a social medai post Thursday (June 26) night.
Dzulkefly said the move was not just a matter of amending the law, but also improving the future of healthcare in the country.
"As I have emphasised in Parliament and during various engagement sessions previously, the implementation of this amended Act would not be delayed for long, and today, the Health Ministry fulfils that responsibility.
"This is not merely a legal amendment, but a decision that concerns the future of our national healthcare system.
"Through this amendment, both pathways can be executed in a more structured, transparent, and consistent manner within the framework of existing legislation," he added.
He added that the demand for specialists continues to rise in tandem with the growing burden of diseases and the evolution of our healthcare system.
"Therefore, we must ensure that access to quality specialist training is expanded, without compromising patient safety and the standard of care.
"Thank you all for your support and attention," said Dzulkefly.
