Revamp MMC, Dr Subra told

A group of medical doctors wants action following reports that two MMC officials face MACC probe.

PETALING JAYA: A group of medical doctors today urged Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam to revamp the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), alleging that the body entrusted with the authority to decide on policies is out-of-date, tainted with corruption and rampant abuse of power.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr Mohd Amin Mohd Ismail said the MMC officials were highly unprofessional as they make decisions that serve their personal interests.

He was referring to a FMT report on Aug 6 that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was investigating two MMC officials over their their overseas trips to check on international universities.

Mohd Amin said it was high time for the Health Ministry to review and revamp the medical council as most of its members and administration officers have been holding their respective post for too long.

“The Medical Act 1971 only allows a member to be with the council for three terms only. However, we found that there are some members who have been with the council for more than three terms,” he said.

“How is this possible when the Act has clearly stated that it should not be more than three terms, and why is the Health Ministry not aware of it?” he asked.

Mohd Amin also added that being a council member beyond the stipulated three years could be a reason why they were corrupt and misused their positions.

On a related matter, Mohd Amin also questioned the MMC on the quality of medical services in the country.

He quoted the case of MyWatch chief R Sri Sanjeevan who was shot but there being no doctor in Negeri Sembilan who was qualified to remove the bullet.

Sanjeevan,who was shot on July 27 in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, was transferred to Serdang hospital after Hospital Tuanku Jaffar in Seremban could not operate on him to remove the bullet lodged in his rib cage as the hospital does not have a doctor who could perform such an operation.

Suspend the officials
“Negeri Sembilan has a population of about million but unfortunately there is not a single doctor in the state who could perform the operation,” he said.

“MMC should be blamed over the shortage of surgeons in Malaysia since they are the ones who also serve as a regulatory body to monitor medical doctors in the country,” said Mohd Amin.

“There are thousands of doctors waiting outside MMC, who can perform better than the incumbent officers. We hope that the Health Minister will revamp the MMC and open the medical council door to others,” he added.

Meanwhile, another NGO has urged Dr Subramaniam to suspend the two MMC officials who are being investigated by MACC.

“It is a standard procedure followed by all the government departments where any individuals who come under police or MACC investigation should be suspended or ordered to go on leave,” said WargaAMAN secretary S Barathidasan.