THE ongoing controversy over the recognition of the Parallel Pathway training for cardiothoracic surgeons should not have risen in the first place.
It has not only adversely affected Malaysia’s medical profession and health system, but also exposed the fact that certain quarters of society are trying to put their own political agenda above the country’s quality healthcare at the expense of the public health service – lowering the esteem of our medical profession itself.
Like other professional bodies such as the Malaysian Bar, the Malaysian 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, that is the Medical Act.
The principle of professional independence and self-governance should not be compromised or tampered with by any other non-professional bodies with an underlying political agenda.
Any tampering with professional self-governance by MMC would not only make the standard of our health service go backwards but also make Malaysia less inspiring and appealing for future socioeconomic investments and advancements.
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) is designed to evaluate academic educational programmes.
It’s not their role to be involved in the licensing process of medical professionals that falls under the jurisdiction of MMC, an independent professional body with greater expertise in assessing the qualifications of doctors and specialists.
On the contrary, it is within MMC’s jurisdiction, powers, and professional capacity to decide on both local and foreign universities’ basic and specialist medical training programmes’ qualifications and licences 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 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, it is for the independent professional bodies to decide 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 given to these independent professional bodies.
It is important to note that MQA is empowered to lay out criteria for accrediting the higher education courses in local universities,
However, the local university’s basic medical graduates or specialists’ qualifications for a licence to practice are subject to recognition by MMC or any professional bodies created by the law.
Like any other profession 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, and so should be the same for the medical profession in the future.
MMC should exercise its powers to decide on the recognition of any basic medical degrees and specialist training pathways and the issuance of their licences to practice.
Nonetheless, MMC should consider setting up a 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 licence to practice and for postgraduate training.
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 specialist associations to advise on the recognition of their respective specialists and subspecialists.
Rightfully, it is for MQA to consult MMC on the recognition of respective universities’ basic medical degrees and specialist education training programs. And there is no necessity for any new law in this aspect. – June 6, 2024
Dr Boo Cheng Hau is a Johor DAP state committee member
