Parallel pathway: Boo calls for MMC chief to quit after MQA clarification
Published: Jun 10, 2024 11:59 AM
Dr Boo Cheng Hau has responded to the clarification by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) over the parallel pathway programme by calling out the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and asking its head to step down.
This follows the clarification by MQA CEO Mohammad Shatar Sabran that his organisation is not directly involved in the registration crisis for medical doctors who obtain specialist qualifications through specialist degree training programmes or parallel pathways.
“This means that MMC has the power but did not follow the government’s policy.
“There is no need for any amendments to the Medical Act if the (Health Ministry) director-general (Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan) appreciated his own powers and responsibilities to uphold the quality of the public health service.
“He should resign over his failure to uphold the law, to upgrade the standard of care by ensuring coexistence between the parallel pathway and local masters degree and giving exclusive parallel pathway right to one university - Universiti Teknologi Mara,” Boo (above) said.
Radzi is both health director-general and president of the MMC, while Boo is a practising physician who served two terms as Skudai assemblyperson from 2008 to 2018.
Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan
Boo said that accreditation for the parallel pathway programmes should be shared by both overseas and local universities.
“Any cartel on the matter is against the policy of the Madani government,” he added.
This comes after Shatar clarified that the jurisdiction to accept or reject the registration and certification of medical practitioners is subject to the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) including medical specialities, such as cardiothoracic surgery.
He said that accreditation and recognition of medical institutions in the country was carried out jointly between MQA and MMC, therefore the issues that arose recently did not involve MQA directly.
“MQA only acts as a facilitator to help resolve related issues based on existing jurisdiction and regulations at this agency,” he said.
He said this when commenting on the parallel pathway issue.
Chronology of events
The matter arose when MMC rejected the application of four cardiothoracic surgeons to be listed in the National Specialist Register because the Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Cardiothoracic Surgery (FRCS Ed) qualification they obtained was not recognised following the enforcement of the amendment to the Medical Act 1971 from 2017.
Boo said that accreditation for the parallel pathway programmes should be shared by both overseas and local universities.
“Any cartel on the matter is against the policy of the Madani government,” he added.
This comes after Shatar clarified that the jurisdiction to accept or reject the registration and certification of medical practitioners is subject to the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) including medical specialities, such as cardiothoracic surgery.
He said that accreditation and recognition of medical institutions in the country was carried out jointly between MQA and MMC, therefore the issues that arose recently did not involve MQA directly.
“MQA only acts as a facilitator to help resolve related issues based on existing jurisdiction and regulations at this agency,” he said.
He said this when commenting on the parallel pathway issue.
Chronology of events
The matter arose when MMC rejected the application of four cardiothoracic surgeons to be listed in the National Specialist Register because the Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Cardiothoracic Surgery (FRCS Ed) qualification they obtained was not recognised following the enforcement of the amendment to the Medical Act 1971 from 2017.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir
The government recently announced that the parallel pathway issue will be resolved promptly and that a proposed solution framework has been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for evaluation.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir stated that discussions with the Health Ministry were held last month to find a solution regarding legal aspects, in addition to issues related to the recognition of medical programmes offered in universities.
“The government is examining comprehensive solutions that also involve legal aspects such as the need for any amendments to the Medical Act.
“Additionally, there are matters related to the recognition of medical programmes offered at universities,” he said.
Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir stated that discussions with the Health Ministry were held last month to find a solution regarding legal aspects, in addition to issues related to the recognition of medical programmes offered in universities.
“The government is examining comprehensive solutions that also involve legal aspects such as the need for any amendments to the Medical Act.
“Additionally, there are matters related to the recognition of medical programmes offered at universities,” he said.
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