Reform MMC with proposed amendments to Medical Act, says MP

 

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii called for a reform of the election process for MMC members as its voting system, which uses postal ballots, is outdated and only 10% of 70,000 doctors vote each time.

PETALING JAYA: 

The proposed amendments to the Medical Act 1971 must be accompanied by reforms to the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) to enhance transparency in the council’s election process and decision-making, says Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.

Yii, who was a special adviser to former health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, said proper checks and balances were needed as the responsibility for recognising and ensuring the standards for medical speciality training in Malaysia now lies with the council.

“With such powers being given to MMC under this framework, the first step for proper oversight is to see reforms within MMC itself.

While these amendments we see today do improve the composition of MMC itself, including adding more representation from Sabah and Sarawak, there is also a need for reforms to increase transparency in the council’s decision-making process,

 he said in a statement.

This includes publicly publishing decisions made by the council’s medical education committee, along with justifications and a clear chronology of events related to the recognition or derecognition of any medical qualification, whether undergraduate or postgraduate.

The proposed 2024 Medical Act (Amendment) Bill, tabled yesterday, will amend Section 14(2A)(a) of the act to replace the previous clause of 

recognised training programme in any recognised training institution

 with 

training programme in any institution as determined by the MMC

.

Changes to Section 14B(2) will empower the health minister to register specialist doctors upon the MMC’s recommendation if the minister is satisfied that the applicant has any other comparable qualification or specialised training of special value to the country.

Yii said that decisions on postgraduate qualifications, as well as considerations of the council’s committee that decide on speciality education, should also be made available to the public.

Through this, they can stay accountable and provide justifications for any of their decisions,

 he said.

Yii called for a reform of the election process for the MMC members as its voting system, which still uses postal ballots, is outdated and should be simplified through digitalisation.

Currently, the inconvenience of casting a ballot is discouraging the fraternity from voting, with only 10% of the 70,000 registered medical practitioners voting each time elections are held,

 he said, adding that the results should also be made public.

Yii also said the council’s composition should be changed to include at least 80% elected representatives. Out of the 33 current members, only 17 are elected while the remaining are appointed.

He said a representative from the Academy of Medicine Malaysia, which consists of medical specialists, should also be included in the MMC to provide oversight. - FMT