THE on-going controversy of the recognition of parallel pathway training on cardiothoracic surgeons could have been avoided at all cost.
It has not only adversely affected Malaysia’s medical profession and health system but also exposed the fact that certain quarters of the society are trying to put their own political agendas above the country’s quality healthcare at the expense of the public health service and lowering the esteem of our medical profession itself.
Like other professional bodies such as Bar Council, Malaysian, the Institute of Accountants and the Malaysian Institute of Architects, the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) is well-empowered to recognise any medical degrees and specialist training programmes under the present law which is the Medical Act 1971.
The principle of professional independence and self-governance should not be compromised and tampered with by any other non-professional bodies with underlying political agenda.
Any tampering of professional self-governance by the MMC would not only make the standard of our health service going backward but also make Malaysia less inspiring and appealing for future socio-economic investments and advancements.
The Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) is set up to assess academic educational programme and it is not within their jurisdiction to get involved in the licensing process of the medical profession which is within MMC’s jurisdiction which is an independent professional body having more expertise than the MQA itself to assess the qualification of any trained doctors and the specialists.
MOHE, MQA shouldn’t interfere
On the contrary, it is within the MMC’s jurisdiction, powers and professional capacity to decide on both local and foreign universities’ basic and specialist medical training programmes’ qualification and license to practice.
The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) and MQA do not have the powers to do so and neither should they interfere with it. In addition, both MOHE and MQA should never be empowered to do so as this would jeopardise the independence of any professional bodies’ powers for self-governance.
As in all other OECD ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, it is for the independent professional bodies to decide on whether a university graduate can be licensed as a professional practitioner after their academic training.
Malaysia has had similar practices that are well-recognised by the laws of the country. These principles and practices should not only be upheld firmly but more regulatory powers should be accorded to these independent professional bodies.
It is important to note that the MQA is empowered to lay out criteria for accrediting the higher education courses in local universities but the local university basic medical graduates or specialists’ qualifications for license to practice are subject to the recognition by MMC or any professional bodies created by the law.
Like any other professions in the country including architects, engineers, accountants and lawyers, they are licensed to practice only after the potential professionals satisfy their respective professional bodies specified practical training and assessment examinations, hence the same should apply for the medical profession in the future.
The MMC should exercise its powers to decide on the recognition of any basic medical degrees and specialist training pathways and the issuance of their licenses to practice.
Nonetheless, MMC should consider setting up Malaysian Medical Graduate Licensure Examination for all basic medical graduates from both local public and private universities as well as foreign universities to be assessed equally before they could be qualified as medical doctors with the license to practice and for further postgraduate training.
In essence, MMC should not cede or even share its professional powers with any other non-medical professional body including MQA.
Nonetheless, within its powers, it could consult or appoint the Academy of Medicine Malaysia and respective specialists’ associations to advise on the recognition of their respective specialists and sub-specialists.
Rightfully, it is for the MQA to consult MMC on the recognition of respective universities’ basic medical degrees and specialists’ education training programmes. And there is no necessity for any new law for this aspect. – June 6, 2024
A practicing medical doctor by profession, Dr Boo Cheng Hau is the Johor DAP committee member.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
