PUTRAJAYA – The cabinet is set to discuss potential legal amendments to resolve issues associated with the medical parallel pathway programme, confirmed Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
This comes after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) advised the cabinet today on the need to revise several laws, he told a press conference at his ministry’s complex here today.
“The cabinet has been informed that there is a need to amend existing laws. (The matter) will be brought up for the cabinet’s consideration during our meeting next week.
“There has yet to be a decision (on the potential legal amendments),” Fahmi said without disclosing the specific laws the AGC had referenced in its advice to the cabinet.
He added that Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir had briefed the cabinet on the matter.
“The issue (on the parallel pathway programme) involves certain overlap (of powers) between the MQA (Malaysian Qualifications Agency) and the MMC (Malaysian Medical Council) (as) some doctors obtain their qualifications through the MMC while others go through the MQA.”
On Monday, Zambry said amendments to the Medical Act 1971, as mooted by the Health Ministry after a discussion with the AGC, would be tabled when Parliament next convenes.
Previously, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said his ministry would stand by its decision to amend the Medical Act to bridge the gap between the parallel pathway programme and the local medical degree programme.
The MMC has been embroiled in controversy involving specialists from the parallel pathway programme and graduates in medical genetics, who are seeking the recognition of their qualifications for inclusion in the National Specialist Register.
Four cardiothoracic surgeons who qualified from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, alongside six graduates from Universiti Sains Malaysia, have reportedly filed a suit against the MMC. – May 29, 2024