KUALA LUMPUR: The syndicate involved in issuing fake medical certificates (MC) is believed to have been active since 2016, using the identities of registered doctors and private clinics, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said the illegal activity involved the misuse of legitimate healthcare practitioners’ credentials.
“We believe they have been active since 2016.
“The syndicate also falsified the names of registered private clinics, while the names and professional registration numbers of doctors were stolen and misused,” he told reporters after participating in the Cik Era Naik MRT programme yesterday.
Dzulkefly said the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) will spearhead the investigation into the matter.
“Both the ministry and the council view the matter seriously.
“The council will work closely with relevant authorities to investigate how the syndicate has been able to operate for several years as well as the possibility of ‘inside men’,” he added.
The minister stressed that any abuse of medical practitioners’ identities and registration credentials could undermine public confidence in the healthcare system and would not be tolerated.
Dzulkefly said the ministry would not compromise on taking action against those involved in ethical misconduct involving the issuance of fake MCs following the arrest of a nurse in Pekan, Pahang.
“Nurses do not have the authority to issue MCs. A nurse cannot issue an MC. An MC can only be issued by the attending physician, medical officer or a registered medical practitioner,” he said.
Dzulkefly said the incident could accelerate efforts to implement digital medical certificates as a measure to curb forgery and abuse.
“Perhaps this is also a signal for us to move towards digital MCs.
“I am confident that our Digital Health Division is actively advancing digitalisation efforts, and this is the way forward to address the misuse of MCs,” he said, adding that the ministry would immediately study measures to strengthen the integrity of the MC issuance system.
On another matter, he said 402 cases involving vape products containing prohibited substances had been reported as of April this year, strengthening arguments for stricter controls, including a possible ban.
He said the findings highlighted growing risks associated with vape use, particularly among minors.
Asked whether the government was considering a ban on vape products, Dzulkefly said the matter remained under active evaluation.
“This cannot be handled by one ministry alone. It requires cooperation across the government to ensure effective enforcement, regulation and public awareness,” he said, calling for a whole-of-government approach to address the issue.
