PETALING JAYA: The Medical (Amendment) Act 2024, which addresses the issue of non-recognition for specialists trained under the health ministry's parallel pathway programme, came into effect last week.
This amendment, gazetted on Oct 17, allows these doctors to apply for enrollment in the National Specialists Register (NSR) through the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).
Senator RA Lingeshwaran told the FMT that specialists working in public hospitals are now eligible for a monthly allowance of RM3,000 and can also work in these hospital's private sectors.
He said the amendments received royal assent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Oct 6.
Lingeshwaran had highlighted the plight of numerous specialists affected by the MMC's prior refusal to recognise their qualifications, including 20 cardiothoracic surgeons, amidst a critical shortage in government hospitals.
Some of these specialists have initiated legal action against the MMC for not recognising their qualifications from local and international institutions, such as the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
The court cases were paused pending the gazettement of the amendments, which were passed in July.
Lawyer Jeremy Rais, who is representing the cardiothoracic surgeons, expressed relief that the amendments are now in effect and is awaiting a court date to finalise the settlement of the suit.
MMC's legal representatives previously indicated that the legal actions would no longer be relevant following the amendments.