KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has requested clarification from the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) in light of conflicting information on the recognition of the cardiothoracic parallel pathway.
Its president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz in a statement said the clarification was needed following the MMC statement issued on March 25, stating that it had never, at any time, recognised the Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) parallel pathway for the cardiothoracic programme in Malaysia.
She said that previous data obtained from the National Specialist Register (NSR) website appeared to suggest that this Royal College diploma was actually accepted and that Malaysian specialists holding this certification were registered in the NSR.
"However, this piece of information on its recognition has seemingly vanished from the NSR website.
"Furthermore, on March 15, the Health Ministry via an official letter stated that graduates from four parallel pathway programmes including the RCSEd cardiothoracic programme can now proceed for gazettement.
"These doctors will eventually be applying to be entered into the NSR upon gazettement."
She also said that MMC must understand the predicament faced by graduates from the RCSEd whose training the Health Ministry had already acknowledged and approved, allowing these graduates from this parallel route programme to proceed for gazettement.
"While the issue of doctors leaving for private practice or overseas is 'beyond the jurisdiction' of the MMC, its decisions have a direct bearing and consequence on the delivery of specialist care to the people of the country and especially so for those awaiting cardiothoracic treatment at government hospitals.
"It was reported in the media that thousands are on the waiting list for life-saving heart surgery at government hospitals nationwide with some patients having to wait up to a year," she said.
Dr Azizan also called for details on MMC's planned task force as it was a matter of public interest.
"We demand full transparency and clarity concerning the task force's composition, terms of reference and timeline.
"We seek MMC's urgent clarification on this matter as many colleagues from the fraternity as well as members of the public have voiced confusion over MMC's statement and recent developments concerning the issue."
Yesterday, a member of Parliament urged the MMC and the Health Ministry to address confusion over the recognition and registration of cardiothoracic surgeons who graduated from the Parallel Pathway Programme.
Dr Kelvin Yii said the programme which started in 2016 had produced 32 surgeons, four of whom have completed training.
The four, however, had their applications to become full surgeons rejected by the MMC.
Earlier, MMC in a statement said it had never recognised cardiothoracic surgeons from a college in the UK despite the health ministry declaring that these groups of doctors could apply for gazettement as specialists.
However, MMC president Datuk Dr Radzi Abu Hassan said they were made aware of issues related to these cardiothoracic surgeons who graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, which falls under the health ministry's parallel pathway programme.
Dr Radzi, who is also the health director-general, said a task force had been set up to resolve the issue.
