LETTERS: We welcome the Medical (Amendment) Bill 2024, passed by the Dewan Rakyat on July 17, 2024, albeit with some concern.
The Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association (PPPKAM) hopes that the amendments to the Medical Act will emphasise the quality of specialist training and compliance with competency standards.
We refer particularly to the Specialty-Specific Requirements (SSR) for public health medicine.
With the requirement for MQA accreditation removed from quality training assessments, PPPKAM hopes an independent body that can evaluate and accredit specialist training transparently and equitably will be established.
It is essential that all public health physicians, accepted for the National Specialist Register (NSR), can perform all the competencies outlined in the SSR to ensure that public health specialist services are not compromised.
PPPKAM is concerned that qualifications that do not meet the competencies stated in the SSR might be listed in Schedule 4 without any form of re-evaluation.
Every qualification in Schedule 4 should have a validity period according to a re-evaluation process to ensure specialist training standards and quality are maintained.
At the same time, PPPKAM sees the positive aspect of the amendments, which allows for specialisation within public health, thereby enhancing expertise in various subspecialities.
The introduction of Schedule 5 instills optimism, but it also raises the question of whether the Health Ministry is ready to use all these subspecialities effectively.
PPPKAM also hopes the same support can be given to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) and the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.
We hope for a strong political will to drive these acts forward.
PROFESSOR DR JAMALLUDIN AB RAHMAN
President,
Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association (PPPKAM)
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times