Zambry calls for ‘ceasefire’ in MMC specialist imbroglio

 

Higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadi (centre-left) said he and health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad were working hard to resolve issues involving the Malaysian Medical Council and specialists. (Pic courtesy of higher education ministry)

PETALING JAYA: Higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir has called for the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and specialists to put aside their differences over the issue of the latter’s recognition.

Zambry, who initiated a multi-agency discussion to resolve the imbroglio, said the two sides must come together for the sake of the nation’s “severely stressed” healthcare system.

He said the issue is a complicated matter which needed the cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders to put things right and to save lives instead of feuding.

“I put my foot down at the meeting and told them we cannot let this problem fester,” Zambry, who co-chaired the special meeting with health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad on Thursday, told FMT.

“Otherwise, it’s the sick Malaysians waiting for long periods for treatment who will continue to suffer. The current situation cannot continue unabated, with the nation’s healthcare under severe stress due to the lack of specialists.”

Zambry said Putrajaya would be resolving the matter swiftly with Dzulkefly’s help.

He was asked to comment on the debate in the media between supporters and detractors of the health ministry’s parallel pathway programme. Critics say it is a mistake to recognise graduates linked to international royal colleges.

The MMC is embroiled in a tussle with the parallel pathway specialists and the medical genetics graduates over recognising their qualifications for the purpose of listing them in the National Specialists Register (NSR).

Four cardiothoracic surgeons with qualifications from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and six Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) graduates have filed legal action against the MMC over the dispute. The minister said recognition of all specialist programmes is being looked into.

Zambry said besides his senior officers and those from the health ministry, including its director-general Dr Radzi Abu Hassan, others present included representatives from the MMC, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

He said the general consensus at the meeting was to see a speedy solution to the impasse with everyone agreeing that the urgent need for specialists supersedes everything else.

Asked what would be the next step after this meeting, Zambry said they will be collecting feedback from all those involved before preparing a Cabinet paper with proposals from both ministries.

The issues involved require the attention of several agencies which are inter-related, he said, adding that there were also issues related to the wording of the current laws.

“But the parallel pathway and masters programmes must co-exist to ensure our target of 19,000 graduates by 2030 is met,” he said.

Zambry said he and Dzulkefly were working hard to ensure that all related issues and problems can be resolved immediately. - FMT