Be transparent in scholarships for specialists, medical group tells ministry

 

The Malaysian Medics International has suggested the setting up of an independent National Healthcare Systems Reform Committee to draft a national healthcare system transformation blueprint for tabling in Parliament.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medics International (MMI) has called for greater transparency when offering scholarships for specialist training involving contract doctors.

This is listed among its proposals following the government’s pledge to improve the contract system for healthcare professionals.

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin recently reiterated in the Dewan Rakyat the government’s promise to allow contract medical officers to apply for a full scholarship from the ministry for them to pursue specialisation programmes while working (Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan or HLP).

MMI requested for a detailed clarification on the budget allocation for these HLP scholarships.

“We would like to once again call for complete transparency in the selection criteria for the scholarship as we strongly believe that fair and equitable distribution is indispensable in the workplace,” it said in a statement today.

“We suggest that any immediate action be financed under the 2022 budget. Any planned long-term action can be incorporated into the 13th Malaysia Plan.”

Additionally, MMI urged the government to set up an independent National Healthcare Systems Reform Committee. This should include representatives from the relevant government agencies, independent healthcare professionals and medical associations, including medical students’ associations.

“This committee should be responsible for drafting a national healthcare systems transformation blueprint, outlining long-term actions. This can be tabled and passed by Parliament.”

The MMI also proposed that the government consider implementing similar welfare benefits for both contract and permanent healthcare professionals.

This should include applying similar criteria to qualify for a federal scholarship, extending eligibility for paid study leave to contract healthcare professionals, allowing special unrecorded leave for candidates to handle procedures related to other specialisation pathways, and standardising requirements for entry into a local master’s programme.

MMI said despite the surplus of medical officers in Malaysia, there was still an insufficient number of specialists, which could be attributed to inadequate funding allocations, insufficient teaching consultants and training facilities.

“Hence, we urge the health ministry to work closely with the finance ministry to increase the funding allocation for postgraduate medical education and to scrutinise the root causes for the deficit of such resources.

“We urge the government to study the possibility of incorporating qualified private healthcare providers into the local training programme for specialists.”

The organisation said this measure could help expand existing specialist training opportunities significantly and subsidise the government’s financial burden.

“Healthcare professionals in training are the backbone of our future healthcare system.

“We plead that they be given the opportunity to reach their full potential during training and that specialised options be guaranteed,” MMI said.- FMT