UiTM-IJN gave assurance on surgery course’s diversity, say foreign advisers

 

Australians Dr Aubrey Almeida and Dr Julian Smith sit on the board of studies of UiTM-IJN’s cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate training programme.

PETALING JAYA: Two Australian surgeons involved in the cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate training programme jointly offered by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and the National Heart Institute (IJN) say they were assured it would respect diversity, equity and inclusion.

Dr Aubrey Almeida, past president of the Australian & New Zealand Society of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS), and Monash University Australia’s Dr Julian Smith both sit on the programme’s board of studies.

“As an integral part of our advice, we have requested and been given assurances that diversity, equity and inclusion would be respected in the UiTM-IJN cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme in Malaysia.

“The ANZSCTS and Monash University strongly support diversity, equity and inclusion in all educational programmes,” Almeida told FMT via email.

A debate presently is raging as to whether UiTM should accept non-Bumiputera postgraduate students into its programme.

The issue arose after the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) said it would not recognise surgeons who qualify under the health ministry’s parallel pathway programme for inclusion in the National Specialist Register.

UiTM’s senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar, then proposed a temporary credit transfer arrangement to facilitate their registration.

The suggestion, however, did not go down well with Malay nationalist groups, who insist that UiTM must remain strictly for Bumiputera students.

Almeida, who also spoke on Smith’s behalf, said they were approached several years ago by a consortium representing UiTM and the Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (MATCVS) for assistance in setting up the training and assessment programme in Malaysia.

“Please note that we are providing pro bono assistance as international advisers on the board of study of the UiTM-IJN cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme.

“We are not acting as representatives of the ANZSCTS or any hospital,” he said.

On Thursday, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) urged UiTM to open its doors temporarily to facilitate the recognition of these specialists.

“If UiTM can open its doors to international students, we don’t see why it can’t open up to all fellow Malaysians, on a needs basis,” MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz said in a statement.

At least four specialists from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh are presently in limbo as they are unable to be registered to practice in Malaysia.

Another 28 trainees at various stages of completion of their course face a similar predicament. - FMT