Parallel pathway specialists recognised by GMC, says British envoy

 

British high commissioner to Malaysia Ailsa Terry said the parallel pathway is a great UK-Malaysia partnership helping to provide high-quality specialist surgeons.  (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: British high commissioner to Malaysia Ailsa Terry says the British General Medical Council (GMC) recognises all qualifications from the royal colleges in the UK, confirming that Malaysian parallel pathway cardiothoracic specialists can apply for registration as specialists.

In an X post late this evening, which tagged health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, health director-general Dr Radzi Abu Hassan and the ministry, she said nothing has changed and the GMC would continue recognising the surgeons.

“The parallel pathway is a great UK-Malaysia partnership helping to provide high-quality specialist surgeons.

“In the light of recent media reports, I want to confirm that the UK approach remains unchanged.

“The GMC continues to recognise the qualifications from prestigious royal colleges,” she said in her post.

She gave an assurance that the process for any non-UK (trained) surgeon wishing to practise in the UK also remains unchanged.

“Similar to the approach taken in Malaysia, surgeons may apply to join the UK Specialist Register after completion of additional training requirements,” she added.

Terry was referring to the report on Monday by CodeBlue which said the GMC has denied recognising the FRCS Edinburgh cardiothoracic surgery parallel pathway qualification for specialist registration.

Quoting a spokesman, the report said the FRCS Edinburgh cardiothoracic surgery does not lead to the award of a certificate of completion of training and therefore does not entitle an individual to apply for specialist registration.

It said the qualification is recognised as an acceptable postgraduate qualification for the purpose of applying for full registration and a licence to practise but not for specialist registration.

The cardiothoracic surgeons trained under the parallel pathway programme linked to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have been put in limbo after the Malaysian Medical Council refused to list them on the National Specialist Register.

Following this, four of them have filed a suit against the MMC seeking a declaration that they are entitled to be listed on the NSR. - FMT