KUALA LUMPUR: A member of Parliament has urged the Malaysian Medical Council(MMC) and the Health Ministry to address confusion over the recognition and registration of cardiothoracic surgeons who graduated from the Parallel Pathway Programme.
In a statement, Dr Kelvin Yii said the programme which started in 2016 has produced 32 surgeons, four of whom have completed training.
The four, however, had their applications to become full surgeons rejected by the MMC.
Yii, the Bandar Kuching MP, said he has relayed his concerns about the situation to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Health director-general .Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi
"I was informed that a taskforce has been formed to resolve this issue," said Yii, adding he welcomed the move.
However, it said the matter must be resolved swiftly and those who have completed their training should be allowed to register as full surgeons.
Yii said reports of MMC claiming that the "Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh" was never recognised did not send the "right message" to address the issue.
He said seven practicing surgeons from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh were already practicing and recognised by the National Specialist Register of Malaysia.
"That is why is essential for us to find a way forward on this matter and the main consideration is to meet the needs of specialists in our country without jeopardising the quality of training and care of the surgeons."