We have another brainless idea from our Health Minister, as usual. I wonder why our Health Minister (who is not a doctor) seem to be making these announcements rather than MMC? The news below appeared in the Star today, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/1/nation/20120501165752&sec=nation. Since our new DG took over the chairman post, many funny things seem to be happening!! Trying to make politicians happy, I presume.
I am happy for the graduates from unrecognised universities as now, they can sit for the exam unlimited number of times. BUT, rather than allowing 16 medical schools to run this exam, attempts should have been made to standardised the MQE exams like many other countries. Basically, you will be sitting for the final year exam of the respective universities. Every university has its own curriculum and exam format. For example: Monash DO NOT have a final year exam!! Their exams are in 3rd and 4rd year only. Final year is a continuous assessment. So, how are they going to conduct this MQE exam?? Has it been thoroughly discussed with these universities or our Minister is talking rubbish as usual?
I would have definitely preferred a standardised exam conducted by MMC rather than each universities running their own format and exams. Will the students be allowed to jump colleges if they fail their attempt? If you sit for the exam at the same uni repeatedly, would they eventually pass you? Most of our medical colleges have almost 100% passing rate, I wonder what will happen to MQE later.
The MMC has also been ordered to recognised more universities worldwide since the idea of common entrance exam for all overseas graduates was rejected by cabinet ( politicians again!). The common exam was approved by MMC under the previous DG. I was told it was one of the reason why he was asked to leave as he could not agree with many of the politicians idea. Due to political agreement between China and Malaysia https://pagalavan.com/2012/03/17/money-money-moneylots-of-money-part-2/, MMC is being forced to recognise graduates from China!
Whatever said, one thing is for sure going to happen! We are going to be flooded with doctors by 2015!! Will we be seeing doctors becoming tuition teachers, pharma company reps and taxi drivers? Only time will tell…………………………. we are in TOTAL mess………………..
Medical qualifying exam now available at 16 local varsities
By SHARON LING
Liow: The medical graduates can now take the exam an unlimited number of times instead of three previously.
KUCHING: Medical graduates from unrecognised universities overseas can now sit for the Medical Qualifying Examination (MQE) at all 16 medical schools in the country, including private universities.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said previously these graduates could only sit for the exam at three local universities – Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
“From now onwards they can sit for the exam in all medical schools in Malaysia. We have 16 medical schools offering 17 medical programmes.
“All students coming back from unrecognised universities overseas can sit for the exam in all these universities,” he told reporters after holding a dialogue with several Sarawakian medical graduates who earned their degrees in China here on Tuesday.
The 16 universities are UM, UKM, USM, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Penang Medical College, International Medical University, AIMST University, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Monash University Sunway Campus, UCSI University, Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, and Management and Science University.
Liow said this move would make it easier for medical graduates to sit for the MQE, particularly Sarawakian students who would no longer need to travel to Kuala Lumpur for it.
“They prefer to take the exam here because the cost will be lower,” he said, adding that this was one of the problems brought up by the graduates during the dialogue session.
Liow also announced that the medical graduates could now take the exam an unlimited number of times.
“In the past it was limited to three times. Now they can sit for it unlimited times to make sure they pass,” he said.
Medical graduates from unrecognised universities need to pass the MQE in order to start their housemanship and be registered as medical doctors in Malaysia.
In addition, Liow said the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) was currently in the process of recognising medical programmes in China.
He said MMC would focus on accrediting the 11 top universities in China first as many Malaysian students were studying there.
He said although Malaysia and China had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on recognising the universities, medical courses needed to be accredited by MMC.
“MMC will visit the universities in China to accredit their medical degrees so that we can recognise them as soon as we can,” Liow said, adding that MMC would try to complete the accreditation process in one year’s time.
At present, MMC recognises 375 universities in over 30 countries, not including China.
Pagalavan's Avatar 
I immediately came to your site once i read the news today, and yeah i saw your comment on it. 😀
I’ve no idea whats wrong with our Health Minister, our DG is just a puppet !
Ya now we can nring a check to one of these schools and tell them if you don;t give me the degree, I will bring this check to the next school. By the way I may not have time to take the exam because of locum, to save time better print the degree and give me now!
If you are smart, get good result and admit to one of the big 3.
If result not so good, don;t worry, we got so many more local private U to go to as long as you got checks.
If got financial problem, no worry, some oversea program is as cheap as 100k and I am sure you can afford a personal loan from any bank, the installment is not much.
If you got financial problem but no merit, no worry, we got foundation in science program and we can guaranteed a seat for you.
If you can’t even qualified to any of the local schools or even oversea recognized schools, don’ worry, we can arrange some school for you. There are hundreds of medical school world wide, there is a way as long as you got the will.
What if I can’t pass the MQE result – that’s history, you just make sure you got the check ready. There are 16 schools there to offer this exam, I am sure one of them will suit your standard!
The passing rate will probably goes from 10-20% to 80-90%
Dr Paga, you must be joking, according to our big boss Dato liow, we don’t have enough doctors. Our shortage is quite high at 60%!!!
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/30/nation/11201514&sec=nation
Ya, read my previous entry. He does not know what he is talking about!!
I agree with Dr pagal..He is talking non sense…Let me ask hoy many new hospital built?..old government hospital asset not replenished but they keep servicing the old one…shortage of medicine is still a problem at our goverment hosp/clinic…plus not enough quaters for local clinic staff..these are the problem we need to solve in our government facilities instead of Dr number..what do you think dr pagal?
i am totally speechless of UNLIMITED RESIT FOR THE EXAMINATION. come on, someone please do something by accumulating signatures of all senior mo, registrars, specialist from every hospital in malaysia as a memorandum of objection relating this insane move by health minister.
As for my own selfishness, I WOULD LIKE ALL RUSSIAN/UKRAINE MIDDLE EAST, INDON GRADUATED STUDENTS TO BE BARRED 100% FROM ENTERING HOSPITAL IN MALAYSIA.
There are good ones and bad ones from every university and country. That’s the reason I support a common entry exam for all garduates. This exam will then kick out those incompetent graduates who do not meet a minimum standard.
Disaster. Period.
speechless_man, dont be selfish. ive seen so many local uni student who are worse than Russian/Ukraine students. Ive some good HO frm russia and ukraine..
hands doc < ImHealthMinister to supporting us 😉
I have worked with many USSR, Middle eastern and Indonesian graduates and there are good and bad ones. I noticed the better ones usually have better pre-University background (eg.STPM/A-levels) as they are probably more mature when they start HOship. But these are few and far in between. The bad ones are really bad. However, it would be good if the authorities are able to reconsider recognizing these medical schools as there are too many local medical schools already. Better still, adopt a similar registry like our neighbouring country to maintain graduates standards.
Yes, I have said this many times. Generally, the better qualification entry, the better the graduates. MMC should just limit the entry to medical school to just a few well recognised and standardised pre-u exams.
I think the better job in the near future is to be a lawyyer as the lawsuit in medical field will be high.
Wah, even some of the 16 are doubtful Unis,for all I can see.. But I think as a professional body, the number of attempts for the exams should not be unlimited. We can extend the number of tries to 5 or 7 times, or a certain duration as to complete within 3 years- 7 years, but if it became unlimited, u’ll see very old house oficer, maybe 60 years old, who may succumb to the work condition of HO-ship meant for the young. Lol!
But seriously, China’s university grads are rather hard to accept as they generally have a different way of approach to medicine, perhaps self-concocting. Or maybe because of the quality of students who went there (u know, it goes by layers in Malaysia, top ones go JPA or local, rich ones go recognized overseas, poorer goes local private or indon/russia/ukraine, and desperate ones go unrecognized universities) are questionable.
I’ve seen a group of medical grads from China who went to take the local professional exams and their quality are generally weaker, some took 3 hours to clerk a case (questions asked on 5-minute interval basis maybe cause they had difficulty conversing in Malay or English- when they are from MALAYSIA!!)
The passing rate in local final exams for these foreign unrecognized degrees goes to around 5-10%, hence maybe they want a “different” approach instead.
Yes, maybe overseas have different diseases or approach, but they are all supposed to practise in Malaysia, so they definitely gonna get used to the system.
In China, everyone need to sit for a common exam to be able to work, similar to USMLE
Why can’t they just model an MQE out of the USMLE exam, with the same rules and such… since lots of “Buatan Malaysia” things seem to be related to something in the US anyway – eg. Flag, Negaraku etc…
His move stink with a political motivation rather than an intellectual one. How did this guy end up being the person who decide what is the best for Medical profession when he obviously has no idea how the system works? I returned to Malaysia after years in Australia’s hospital and now I’m starting to understand how ridiculous the health system in Malaysia.
Welcome to Malaysia!
Hi, merely,
May I ask why are you returning to Malaysia? For better career advancemnt?
I finished my medical study in Australia and have worked over there from internship to senior RMO. I finally got an offer to be a medical registrar at one of the NSW hospital but my wife decided that she rather be back in Malaysia instead (personal and work related). It’s ashamed but I have to make a hard decision. Looking what is happening to Malaysia health/medical system now, I have to admitted that perhaps I make a wrong decision.
Careful ‘merely’… in Malaysia if you say anything for the improvement of the society and system the Beast will blame you for not being patriotic and against certain vaguely defined rights. Then the beast will tell you to balik to where you came from or will tell you to suck it back to Australia if Malaysias not good enough for you. The rest of the “law abiding citizens” will agree that thats the best way to treat people who criticize our perfect nation building system.
On another note, the Talentcorp headed by Johan Merican, tasked to source the best Malaysian talent overseas to come back to our home country, seems to be doing an amazing job.
On another note, the Talentcorp headed by Johan Merican, tasked to source the best Malaysian talent overseas to come back to our home country, seems to be doing an amazing job.
I’d be interested to hear examples of some of these amazing people who have been sourced to return home.
Looks like our beloved Health Minister talking some nonsence again.
He just said in one of the chinese newspaper that MO/Specialist doget concern from KKM, as they can get RM 200 per hour for oncall. Oh my god, he not even know the oncall allowance of MO then simply make this sentence.
He never realize that allow 16 universities for MQE is disaster to our medicine field again. Last time MQE used to conducted by UM, UKM and USM and at least the quality of the overseas graduates can be controlled, as we can see passing rate is 10-15 %. If private college can take MQE, i will guarantee there is 100 % passing rate no matter how poor you are. As we know, even you study in Private colleague, passing rate is 100 % ( correct me if i am wrong) , now, by conducting MQE, it is their opportunities to get even more profit. Since the graduate can have un-limited attempt for the exam, they will just choose particular one college that can guarantee to give them the degree. I don’t think anyone wil choose UM, UKM, USM anymore.
Different private college had different syllabus, so, this exam is not standardize at all. Why don’t we just have a common entrance exam for all overseas student, same exam like USMLE, MRCP which was held in one particular time.Those who can pass only can practice medicine. But, at the same time, they are allow to take any course organised by local university ( not private) for the preparation.
When i was final year in local University, the china graduates do join us in our teaching programme and sit the final professional exam together, they really need to work extremely hard since what they learn is in mandarin, they do had difficulty in clerking patient and when they present the case! But, not all of them fail. I do think that their standard some time better than those graduate from Russia/Indon which their university was recognised by Malaysia.So, it was not fair that they have to work hard for MQE and their lucky friend in Russia can automatically become HO without even knowing how to palpate hepatosplenomegaly, not knowing about cardiac murmur, apex beat!
If you are good, you wont be worry about MQE at all even you study in overseas.
to knifekeeper – so much so for the standard of English of a graduate from one of the big three universities……
*BANGS HEAD ON WALL*
Why would you go to an unrecognised university in the first place? After that, complain that you can’t pass the UM/UKM exam. So now, we’ve made it easier. Instead of derecognising some of the 300+ medical schools we recognise, they’ve made it easier for those from unrecognised universities.
I’m repeating what everyone has said of course: Why is it so hard for MMC to set their own qualifying exam like the USMLE, that would be applicable to everyone? Malaysian politics and Malaysian politicians drive me mad – making all the wrong decisions just to keep a section of ignorant society happy.
Yes the Hell Minister is making announcements that the DG of Health should be making. Have you noticed how it the minister always giving the good news and the DG is left to deliver the bad news? We have always known that politicians are media whores, some apparently more than others.
The implementation of a common medical qualifying exams is an excellent idea but alas political expediency trumps patient health and safety. A fine example of “Rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamakan”? Truely “Malaysia Macam-macam Boleh”! The arguement posed by some foreign doctors that since they come form well-known medical schools they should be exempted from taking the exams holds no water. If they are so good then they will have no problems passing the exams.
I think the reason the proposal was scrapped the fact that many Malaysian students are being sent to substandard medical schools, both overseas and locally. If the exams were to be carried out, the true standard of these medical schools will be for all to see. This would then be such a political hot potato that politicians would rather avoid.
I think It was MMC’s suggestion to have a common medical qualifying exam for all medical students, not the government’s initail proposal. The government actually only wanted to imposed on those coming back from overseas. Am I right? They finally scrapped all the proposals becaused there are still many JPA and Mara students who have yet to return to Malaysia. It will make our government a laughingstock if these students are required to sit for a medical qualifying exam.
Once the government stop sending students to study overseas (when? sorry, I don know. Most probably these future JPA/Mara students will go to Perdana University instead of overseas). I believe our M’sain government will then implement a common medical qualifying exams for those coming back from overseas ( all self-sponsor students) but not on those trained locally just like the CLP exams for overseas-trained law students but not for our local law students.
Doctor, I think that at least part of the stress that newly qualified doctors felt is due to the fact that they may be poorly trained in their profession.
Just imagine having to face situations where your skills don’t match up to your your job requirements.
Or perhaps the newly qualified doctor is not really suitable material for the job.
So, life at best is just a constant struggle!
Perhaps until such time that he inadvertently kills his patients.
There are doctors and there are doctors!
And the fact that someone’s life is in your hands can be enough to cause stress.
Of course, there are those who don’t bother and carried on regardless!
After all it’s not their life that’s at stake!!!!
Unfortunately, more and more people don’t care of what happens to the patient.
16 medical schools available for MQE?can this be considered as acceptable?what MMC do?if MMC is powerless..just agree with everything…then why need MMC?come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..somebody who knows anybody in MMC..FORWARD THIS BLOG ENTRY TO THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello doctor, i am darshelaan from kedah. I got offer to do medical degree in Universiti Putra Malaysia.I just wanna ask, do you have any comments on UPM’s medical faculty ? Besides that, do UPM produces good doctors as UM , USM and UKM? I know a good doctor is not rated based on what universities he or she study ,but based on their own qualification and skills.That’s all my questions regarding UPM. Thank you,doctor.
sorry doctor for running out of topic . i just posted here as i do not know how to ask questions .thank you
hello doctor. i just wanna ask few questions regarding medical degree in UPM? When i got this offer , people look down on myself as i just got medical degree offer in UPM and not in USM, UM and UKM.But when i researched on best varsities in Malaysia, they rank UPM as no 1. I know a good doctor is rated based on his or her qualification and skill. That’s all my questions regarding UPM doctor. Thank you..
Generally OK
Thank you doctor. At least i am very happy to hear your saying . Should not bother other people says . Thank you
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