PETALLING JAYA: Experts argue that authorities should take strong action by broadening specialized training programs and providing improved incentives to tackle the persistent scarcity of healthcare personnel.
Prof Dr John Chan Kok Meng, the honorary secretary of the Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, mentioned that specialized training was formerly limited to universities via their Master’s programs.
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Nevertheless, the universities along with their affiliated teaching hospitals have restricted resources.
“The amendments made to the Medical Act 1971 last year have enabled the Health Ministry to provide specialist training at their hospitals through an alternative route, thereby substantially boosting the nation’s training capabilities,” he stated yesterday.
Even with these advancements, Dr Chan voiced his worry that the revised Medical Act remains unenforced, underscoring the critical need for its immediate execution.
Up until last year, the requirements for specialist registration were quite stringent. For instance, in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, just four certifications were accepted globally—one from the United States, another from Canada, one more from the United Kingdom, and the final one from Australia.
“Having one of these qualifications was mandatory for anyone wanting to practice as a specialist in cardiothoracic surgery in Malaysia,” he explained.
Fortunately, the amendment to the Medical Act 1971 has expanded this list.
Currently, eight certifications in cardiothoracic surgery are acknowledged.
Furthermore, Dr Chan mentioned, the Malaysian Medical Council can now acknowledge specialists who have been trained outside of the country, offering more flexibility for specialist registrations and allowing movement away from the former rigid list.
The President of the Private Hospitals Malaysia Association, Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, stated that private hospitals face differing needs for specialist services, which can be affected by their geographical position and the specific types of specialties they provide.
Certain private hospitals specialize in multiple disciplines, whereas others have a broader focus, which influences their staffing requirements.
“According to regulations, hospitals are required to provide at least one full-time specialist for particular services,” he clarified.
This demand could result in deficits should hospitals seek to increase their offerings.
Dr Kuljit mentioned that, as opposed to private hospitals, the government has a duty to offer complete healthcare services and is particularly conscious of regions lacking specialists.
To meet the requirement for medical experts in the public sector, he proposed enhancing and streamlining specialization programs.
Moreover, Dr Kuljit suggested providing rewards to encourage Malaysian specialists practicing overseas to come back and enhance the country’s healthcare sector.