BALIK PULAU: The draft to amend the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) to address the gap between the parallel pathway programme and the local master's medicine programme has been completed, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) is checking the draft.
He said engagement sessions would be held with stakeholders, including the Malaysian Medical Council, Malaysian Qualifications Agency and Higher Education Ministry, on the matter.
"The draft has been completed. We worked in parallel.
"It has been submitted to the A-GC for checks. Before that is done, we hope to have engagement sessions with stakeholders.
"Once that is completed, we will present the amendment to the cabinet to table it in the next Dewan Rakyat sitting in June.
"We hope to table it in the first week of the sitting so that it can be debated in the third week."
He said this after officiating the opening of the Air Putih Health Clinic here.
It was reported that the cabinet had agreed in principle to amend the Medical Act 1971 to address the gap between the parallel pathway programme and the local master's medicine programme.
The Health Ministry and Higher Education Ministry had jointly submitted a cabinet memorandum on the proposed amendment to the act aimed at resolving the registration issue of doctors who obtained qualifications through the parallel pathway programme and to streamline the recognition and registration process of specialists.
The controversy surrounding the parallel pathway issue was referred to the A-GC to obtain its legal opinion.