In May 2014, I wrote an article about the financial problems faced by one of the private medical college in this country. Three of the twinning universities had already pulled out. The one which was still going on was their own degree and UKM degree. Finally, the verdict is OUT.
Early this week, I received an info from my friend in UKM that the AUCMS UKM program is in trouble. I heard that MMC likely will not accreditate the program and students will be in limbo.It will leave close to 300 students jobless. There was an emergency meeting between MOE and UKM to decide on the fate of these students. The D-Day was 15/08/2014. There were also government sponsored students in AUCMS.
Yesterday, UKM has decided to absorb all these students into their campus! UKM had to take the responsibility to what has happened. It was them who allowed an unknown university to run their program. Obviously, they would not want their reputation and degree to be badly affected. The students have to thank their lucky stars. If not, they would be left with no degree and no job!
Will UKM end up in trouble with this arrangements? I am not sure. MMC decides on the number of students that a university can take. I was given these numbers by one of the commentator in this blog:
Number of studdents in UKM (AUCMS in bracket):
Year 2: 163 (+110) = 273
Year 3: 215 + 48(UNPAD) + 75 (AUCMS) = 338
Year 4: 201 (+59) = 260
Year 5: 233 (+46) = 279
This is way off the figure that UKM can cope(especially Year 3). Would this lead to their degree being questioned especially by external bodies. Will Singapore Medical Council de-recognise UKM degree? How many parents will start making noise, in UKM accepting these students via “back door” when so many students could not get a place in local universities? Only time will tell.
This is one of the reason why I had always advised students to choose wisely. Please do not fall into the trap of entering a course which is yet to be accredited by MMC. It is a risk that you will have to take. By the time you realise, it might be too late. Many budding students came to this blog and emailed me about the generosity of some colleges giving them scholarship and loans to complete their study. I had always cautioned them. I had also always cautioned students on “unreliable info/promises” given by certain colleges. I write facts in this blog but many refuse to believe.
I read an interesting letter in Malaysia Insider yesterday (see below). It was written by a student who has questioned why JPA has stopped offering automatic scholarship to ALL medical students in public universities. Many years ago, all students were given JPA scholarship. It is up to you whether to accept it or not. Over the last 2-3 years, students were given an option between JPA scholarship and PTPTN loan. Based on this letter, JPA has stopped giving automatic scholarship. JPA has also stopped sending medical students overseas except for the top 50 students. However, MARA still sends students to do medicine overseas!! Ironic!
Is this a prelude to the fact that job is not guaranteed in the future? AS a JPA scholar, you will be bonded with the government. This means, the government must provide you with a job.
Well, in one way, some of these happenings will reduce the number of graduates slowly. With AUCMS closing 4 of their programs, there will be a reduction of close to 400-500 graduates annually. BUT then, other colleges may continue to increase their numbers. Whatever it is, we are still in a mess!
Mara, pelajar perubatan luar negara lagi baguskah? – Wan Salman Wan Sallam
Published: 15 August 2014
Saya secara peribadi menahan saja perasaan daripada meluahkan pendapat peribadi tentang polisi baharu pemberian biasiswa Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) kepada pelajar perubatan Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA). Polisi terbaharu itu ialah pelajar perubatan IPTA, bermula dengan kemasukan 2013/14 tidak lagi akan mendapat biasiswa JPA secara ‘de facto’ automatik.
Walaupun saya sendiri berjaya mendapat biasiswa tersebut, namun saya tetap kurang berpuas hati dengan sikap JPA yang langsung tidak memberi notis kemungkinan ini sebelum keputusan UPU tahun lalu. Walaupun benar JPA tidak pernah menjamin keautomatikan biasiswa perubatannya, polisi JPA yang selama ini sentiasa menwarkan biasiswa ‘automatik’ saban tahun pastilah membolehkan kita menganggap JPA akan terus melakukannya untuk tahun mendatang melainkan ada notis JPA untuk tidak meneruskannya.
Saya cuba melihat pada sudut positif; memandangkan pembinaan hospital tidak serancak pembinaan fakulti perubatan, saya dapat menganggap ada petanda kerajaan sendiri mungkin tidak dapat menguruskan ramai graduan perubatan akan datang. Malah pembekuan pembinaan fakulti perubatan IPTA mahupun IPTS juga bermula buat masa ini.
Sungguhpun begitu, saya lebih terkilan apabila membaca laporan berita Utusan yang menyatakan Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) akan meneruskan penajaan pelajar bidang perubatan ke luar negara. Mengapakah Mara begitu beria-ia malah kelihatan berbangga dapat menaja pelajar perubatan ke luar negara?
Tanpa menafikan kecemerlangan pelajar tajaan Mara, saya melihat kerajaan amnya seharusnya juga melihat nasib pelajar perubatan dalam negeri, IPTA terutamanya yang saya kira setanding kecemerlangannya dengan pelajar luar negara dalam Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Bukan itu saja, rata-ratanya mereka juga amat cemerlang juga dalam program persediaan (contohnya Matrikulasi KPM, Asasi IPTA, PASUM dan STPM).
Bahkan yang ditaja kerajaan ke Timur Tengah contohnya, universiti mereka malah tidak menjadikan kelulusan program persediaan pun ada! Hendak sambung perubatan dalam negeri sangatlah susah dengan syarat kemasukan dan persaingan dahsyatnya, tetapi yang ke luar negara dengan syarat kemasukan lebih mudah ditaja pula. Bagaimanakah pertimbangan dibuat dalam keputusan ini sebenarnya?
Bukan itu saja, kerajaan sendiri mengakui jika ingin mengamal perubatan di Malaysia, amalan klinikal adalah lebih baik dijalankan dalam negeri berbanding luar negara atas faktor penolakan pesakit dan demografi penyakit. Pihak MQA sendiri juga menetapkan syarat ketat untuk akreditasi fakulti perubatan, maka adakah fakulti perubatan yang sekian banyak di Malaysia ini masih tidak dapat menampung keperluan graduan perubatan?
Tentang kos pula, menganggung seorang pelajar perubatan di negara benua Eropah memakan belanja hampir RM1 juta, jika tidak lebih! Apa rasionalnya menangung lagi dengan kos ini sedangkan kerajaan juga memberikan subsidi amat tinggi untuk menampung pengajian perubatan di IPTA? Lebih baik sempurnakan subsidi dan pemberian biasiswa pelajar IPTA semuanya daripada menaja ke luar negara.
Saya difahamkan bentuk ‘tajaan’ Mara bukanlah tajaan penuh, tetapi merupakan pinjaman boleh ubah. Apa kurangnya pelajar IPTA untuk tidak ditawarkan pinjaman yang sama? Bahkan kosnya lebih murah memandangkan IPTA bukanlah dasarnya mengaut keuntungan.
Jika Tan Sri Annuar Musa berpendapat bakal doktor perubatan ini berpeluang bergaul dengan orang luar negara, Mara mahu jadikan mereka doktor atau negarawan berjiwa rakyat? Mungkin juga Mara teringin melahirkan sosok seperti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yang belajar perubatan di Ireland dan kini menjadi presiden PKR. Namun kita juga ada Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang belajar di Universiti Malaya dan juga merupakan perdana menteri paling lama di Malaysia!
Untuk kerajaan, JPA terutamanya, ingatlah pelajar dalam negeri lebih setia berkhidmat untuk Malaysia. Buat yang mendapat tajaan luar negara, saya ucapkan tahniah dan berazamlah untuk kembali berbakti buat negara kita.
Untuk Mara pula, kebanyakan pelajar perubatan IPTA yang tidak mendapat biasiswa ini Bumiputera juga. Ada antara mereka hanya makan sekali sehari dan perlu menanggung kos buku teks yang hampir beribu harganya.
Cukuplah dengan polisi pilih kasih ini. Mara walaupun berasingan dengan JPA, kedua-dua agensi dan jabatan ini milik kerajaan juga. Sepatutnya wujud persefahaman den kesegerakan dalam polisi tajaan ini dengan bantuan Kementerian Kesihatan dan Kementerian Pendidikan.
Akhir sekali, mengapa ingin menyusu anak sampai ke luar negara jika susu di rumah sendiri lebih murah, berkualiti dan cukup untuk anak-anak? – 15 Ogos, 2014.
* Penulis ialah pelajar perubatan Universiti Sains Sains Islam Malaysia.
* Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.
Pagalavan's Avatar 
JPA also send students to Poland to study medicine. How is the quality of education there?
I read, not unlike Russia. I thought JPA no longer send medical students abroad, save for those in the top 50 scholars group.
and guess what the MAHSA official website even display the letter from Medical Counsil of Thailand . Some of the students claim to be reporting to Dr.Porntip to do Forensic Medicine and that they have got place there it seems, under Her ? is all this true sir ?
Haha, none of the post graduate degree from Thailand is recognised in Malaysia!
If they learn from her, all they get are lies, and intuition reporting. Lol!
If one reads carefully,there is a typo error with regards to recognition given to Poland instead.I mean shouldn’t a reputable university would have spotted this typo error before publishing it to the world or is this the case of mediocre “tidak apa” attitude by the management.
Dear Dr Pagalavan,
I have read your blog with great interest since it was accidentally discovered by my mother earlier in the year! I have recently qualified as an eye specialist in New Zealand, having done my medical degree here. My family migrated to New Zealand from Malaysia when I was in high school, before I thought of becoming a doctor.
I have to say that as much as I am fascinated by the dire developments for future junior (and I am sure eventually senior doctors) in Malaysia, it saddens me that so many current medical students will be affected by the intern/housemanship crisis when they graduate in the next few years after the significant financial, emotional and time commitments by their families and the students themselves. If your assessment of the quality of the medical students and hence the medical graduates are correct (and I am not doubting you at all!), then as you say, there are many junior doctors who have been given the license to kill. The Malaysian public should be scared, very scared indeed. There is a reason for the usually very high academic standards demanded by most established medical schools around the world as a minimum criteria for entry. It does not guarantee good doctors but it is a calculated assessment that this will hopefully improve the odds of producing competent doctors given that we deal in matters of life and death routinely.
As for the mismatch between medical school graduates and internship/housemanship positions, it seems that the bureaucrats in Malaysia are not the only ones miscalculating. As you noted, the UK and Australia are going through this currently. In Australia, the drive to become self sufficient in medical training has resulted in a dramatic increase in medical school intake with no clear planning for where all the junior doctors are going to go for their internship after their very expensive, mostly state subsidized medical education. According to the Australian Medical Students’ Association website, in 2015, there will be approximately 3210 state and territory intern positions and up to 100 Commonwealth funded intern positions for 3676 application for internships (3004 domestic medical graduates, 480 international full fee paying graduates of Australian universities and 192 other applicants; actual number expected to be less due to some failure to complete their courses). I can’t see very many Monash Malaysia graduates being successful in their applications for internship positions in Australia. I would not rate their odds of getting a position in New Zealand either as New Zealand went through a similar process of increasing medical school intake in 2010-2011 to allow for up to 20% of NZ graduates leaving overseas (mostly to Australia and some to the UK) but now that NZ graduates are having difficulty getting internship positions in Australia, we also have too many medical graduates and similar problems of trying to find internship positions for all recent local graduates. We are even getting some Australian graduates coming to New Zealand for jobs, which was quite a rare occurrence previously. Health Workforce NZ has stated that vocational training jobs (for specialist training) will only be funded for NZ citizens or permanent residents so even Australians who apply for vocational training from Australia will generally not be considered (Australian citizens are automatically NZ permanent residents but they have to be in NZ to be considered NZ permanent residents when they apply for vocational jobs).
The future is indeed uncertain for the current generation of medical graduates. Many will do well but the future of jobless doctors is coming and some will be caught out for sure…
Thanks for the comment. That’s why I keep telling these guys that they should not do medicine if they want to migrate.
The irony is that the dean and VC of UKM who signed the deal is no longer being held responsible. It’s the current dean and VC who had to clean up the mess. It’s the very same ex-dean who introduce the UKM-UNPAD programme just so his son could enter UKM as an alternative from the matriculation pathway.
and because of that, UPAD is not accepting anymore direct entry from Malaysia
Paga, the figures for Year 3 does not tally.
There has been funding cuts for JPA scholarships, but not for MARA, yes they are still sending students to expensive 1st world countries.
Last year’s IPTA med students had to apply for the JPA scholarship, and many were rejected. There was an upsurge in applications for the scholarship given by an NGO that I am part of.
The other interesting fact from the figures, is the dropping UKM enrolment. It’s either the gov cutting back in view of oversupply, or did someone foresee this event happening?
UKM stretched its limits to 220-230 students per year at its max capacity. However, once the ex-dean signed an agreement to allow approximately 50 students to join in from UKM-UNPAD programme, the 280 students were causing a furore from lecturers and students alike, imagine a ratio of one specialist to 15 students per batch. And some specialists combine Year 3 and Year 5 groups to teach together, making it a ratio of 1 specialist to 30 medical students! Not to count in those foreign students from China/Taiwan attachment and taking the external exam and “leechers” from other groups student because some specialists do not make the cut and have no knack or interest in teaching.
Hence, to cope with that, the intake per year had been reduced gradually so that the total number of students is back to 200-220 per batch. This has been happening for the past 5 years, and given the recent fiasco, it will take another 4-5 years to reduce it to the “ideal” number. And the intake from STPM/matriculation programme had been reduced while the UNPAD-UKM programme takes in those students who had CGPA less than 4.0 in our local matriculation programme.
Actually last year, most public universities did cut down their numbers. UM reduced their numbers to 180 and wanted to reduce to 150 then 120. Unfortunately I heard MOE refuse to accept the proposal.
Next time I see a UKM graduate, I will need to ask if they came through AUCMS or UNPAD.
Well,do you realize that students of both under instituitons are coming from under the same roof(MD UKM) medical school.hence,their quality,their knowledge are all being assessed by the doctors there for them to qualify as MD UKM graduate.I believe it is tougher for most of them since they come from the different institutions during their 2/3 years pre-clinical,and to pass their medical degree in HUKM itself(different way of learning etc)By hook or by crook,they MUST follow what the doctors there want,thus struggle more to pass.As long the medical students passes their professional exam(final year),they are eligible to work as a houseman.No judgement please.
This is considered backdoor entry. For the training of doctors for Malaysians, the entry criteria is more important than passing exams. In Malaysian Med schools, the fact is, few students fail. In some overseas med schools, few fail as well, and it is possible to buy a pass.
Sir, why on earth would MARA want to worry? Their students are not bonded (except for the two years of housemanship), unlike the JPA and a few more sponsors (like mine ..MINDEF). We’re bonded for 10 years. So may be that’s the reason MARA doesn’t even bother. But that’s not an excuse to mismanage the tax-payers money.
We were offered to ireland after our spm results came out. Suddently we were told that mara has to cut some number of student because of quota problem. We got straight A’s in our spm and fullfill the requirement to go to ireland(pointer, interview etc) Sadly, some of us have to stay (half from our batch-even passing all the requirement needed ). Some of us need to go for next year’s intake to ireland and some go for md ukm-aucms and some to usu-aucms. Me myself got straight A’s in spm and got pasum for foundation..but i did choose aucms after being told by mara that they ll sponsur us to ireland and our prep ll be at aucms. For JPA’s (which all of them were only offered to md ukm-aucms only )majority are non bumi and their spm results r the even better..more A+.Nvm, i never regret of my decision and ik, we ll be strong enough to face the future..btw dr pagalavan, for year 3 of md ukm (215 from ukm, 48 from UNPAD, 75 from AUCMS)
Thanks for the comment.
Giving you an idea to write in your next blog – Why John Hopkins withdraw from Perdana (scheduled to pull out Dec 2014) – and the degree will go on for the next 3 years, before it changes to giving out its own Perdana Degree, but whether is will be a graduate course or undergraduate degree is yet to be ascertained. 😉
Yup, i heard about it from reliable source but the news has not appeared openly yet. Thus I will wait.
BTW, it was never a JH degree. IT has always been Perdana University degree.
Just read today.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/top-us-medical-school-cuts-ties-with-perdana-u-over-money
Yup, I am aware of this last few months. Did not want to comment till it is official
Perdana has stopped advertising their PUGSOM with JH. Yesterday’s newspaper adverts was only about the Irish franchise programme.
It is still there in their website, but they have removed ALL reference to John Hopkins, which featured so prominently in the beginning. I think the programme will die, as without the 1 mil per student from JPA, nobody in their right mind will join the programme.
I feel once the current 3 batch graduates, they will not continue their graduate school
Most of Md ukm-aucms students are Mara’s and Jpa’s scholars, they wouldn’t even want to enter that college if it is not because of the sponsorship
Yes, that was what I asked few years ago. Why do MARA and JPA send students to unrecognised/new colleges!
I went to a university hospital in Serawak, Kuching.
I met a “radiologist” for advanced level diagnostic.
He says he is a qualified radiologist graduating from UKM although he is Indonesian citizen.
I check his name on NSR, his name is NOT there
So, ……is he a radiologist or what ?
I am confused.
There is no university hospital in Kuching. Only one hospital as far as I know: Hospital Umum Sarawak. UNIMAS uses this hospital as their teaching hospital.
Our local universities do take foreign students for their Master’s. Some of them will eventually get married to local and some do get employment from MOH to serve rural areas. NSR at the moment is not compulsory for government servants.
“… NSR at the moment is not compulsory for government servants… ”
Do you mean that a specialist can work as a specialist though he is not registered with NSR ?
As long as they have been gazetted by MOH.
Is the first batch MD UKM AUCMS graduates accredited by MMC? I heard that the whole bacth passed the exams and there was no failure. Where’s the quality of the medical degree if some of them taking history/doing clinical exams is still below satisfaction, I’m just worry that they can bring harm to patients.
Based on MMC latest list of recognition here, dated 10/08/2014, AUCMS is not listed. Thus, likely it has not been accredited yet. I heard, that was one of the reason why UKM is absorbing the final year student into their campus.
My trusted source told me some of the batch already got HO placement. That really surprise me when you say they need to sit for exams again. Malaysia is so boleh when it comes to everything.
Unlikely as even if they had passed the exam, it will take about 2-3 months to get HO placement. Furthermore, based on MMC website, it is yet to recognised.
Dear worry girl. Dont be a typical malaysian who listen half, undertand quarter, speak double. It’s funny because u blurt out whatever u heard without getting the real fact
Let me help to enlighten you and your other kinds
Fyi, the professional exam were conducted by ukm. And the passing rate was not 100%
So if u were to question everything. Perhaps u should make an extra effort to do some research
While to dr paga. I was your silent reader and I initially love the way you give out the info to everyone during my early student days. By as time goes by. I can conclude that u are just a typical malaysian, complaining and talking big without giving solutions. I have been reading a lot to your articles but too bad I had been getting much negativity and almost give up to my study because I was affected by your negativity. Then I finally stopped reading your blog and I get myself at peace for being able to focus on being a doctor
Now im a fresh graduate and soon to be a ho. I guess u should complain as you always do + some advice on improving the current situation. Not just being a typical malaysian nagger
Sorry for my harsh words. Have a nice day
The solutions are ALL here in this blog if you care to read between the lines. FYI, I have worked to improve the situation more than you know. BUT generally I do not boast about what I have done. AND you will soon find out the truth of what I have been writing all this while!
Sorry if I missed them. I must say your are really a big help I the sense of giving info to everyone about whats happening in malaysian medical industries lately. Thank you so much
However I hope you can make sure on your ‘trusted source’ before you give comment on any issue. Im saying this based on your comment on the pioneer batch of md ukm aucms. Do not give false info to the public!
Any how a lot of your predictions are true and I really hope the government can appoint a group of dedicated individual like you to get involve in decision making. Not just bunch of money hunger bussinessman cum politicians
Thanks for the comment. However, based on MMC second schedule, MD UKM AUCMS is yet to be recognised. The list was just updated 10/08/2014. However, once the students are absorbed into UKM, it is no more an issue as they will graduate from UKM. It is the same as what NuMed did to their international students. They send them to UK for the last 6 months so that they can graduate from there with a well recognised degree. Monash did the same for their first batch of students.So, there is nothing false with what I said!
I have been involved in discussing policies with government since early 2000. The problem with our government is bureaucracy!
We need to know the problems and the latest situation before we come up with any solutions. Dr Paga’s role is to inform us regarding the problems and situaton that we are facing in Malaysia. I am not studying in Malaysia currently but I will be back home to serve the country eventually.and thanks to individuals like Dr Paga and those that commented here I am able to keep myself updated on the situation and think of the possible solutions ourselves. Do not always rely on others to provide a solution/spoon feed you, You are going to be a HO soon, consultant eventually and the future of medicine lies in your hand. Are you going to expect Dr Paga to tell you what to do when you are a consultant in the next 15 years? Dr Paga is trying to provoke your thoughts and there are just so much that he could do, the future still lies in the junior doctors’ hand.
Am I to imply from this, that the first AUCMS UKM batch will actually graduate with a UKM degree rather than an AUCMS degree? If so, then it is a non issue, as UKM MD is recognised.
Errr… sorry boss Paga. NUMed (as I know) does not send the international students to UK for the last 6 months. NUMed degree is already FULLY recognised by GMC and MMC (latest update) and that the graduates can apply for job in the UK without having to sit for the PLAB test.
Yup I know that. But even though GMC recognises the degree, immigration laws apply if you graduate from here and apply for a job there. Thus it is only wise if you graduate from there to be able to get an internship post over there in UK. FYI, most the international students were from Singapore. NuMed is not recognised in Singapore
Sorry, my bad! The first batch suppose to be 24 students but only 17 graduated. All Malaysians. The second batch consist of 40+ students where majority of the international students are Singaporeans. NUMED Is not recognised in Singapore.
What a horrible attitute, I am very concern about you becoming a doctor, from a doctor that hold a specialist qualification from overseas, you will sure fail and get sued for your arrogant attitude, be it from patients or SMO (senior doctor)
By the way, my comment is personally addressed to ” disgusted reader”.. just too arrogant, I really feel Dr P’s pain in dealing with people like you
Hi! First of all I wonder from which sources you are getting these info because there was no 100% pass during their professional exam and the failed student was in HUKM for another 6 months before another set of exam. I believe if the whole batch passed the exams UKM’s credibility will be questioned even more. For your information, during the professional exam,lecturers from various local universities were there as external examiners, including lecturers and specialists from UKM and Hosp Sultanah Bahiyah itself. If the examiners did not recognize the students’ ability and quality, I believe more than 50% of them will fail the exams. Besides from what I know, the first batch students is the only batch who managed to have a lot of trips to HUKM for exposure during their postings and participate in clinical teaching & presentations at least. There were students who need to repeat posting also were sent to HUKM and took the exam there during their clinical years. Therefore I doubt if the students need to sit for the exams again and MMC already allowed them to apply their temporary registration number.
Not all of them passed the exam, don’t spread rumours if you’re unsure about it..our lecturers never taught us to harm patients and never look down on private medical students abilities
Yes…. Even they were in AUCMS, but they still got MD UKM degree… I think that’s the reason why they got HO placement.. they are bringing MD UKM degree offered by ex-dean who is currently the founding dean in new new new new medical school.. I’m just pity for the fate of these students who got their future ruined by one person… clean up the mess
Even though the degree is MD UKM, as long as it is done in another university, it must be accreditated separately.
BTW, I don’t think the HO placement has been done yet
Hi Dr Paga, i saw a facebook post from one of the MD AUCMS UKM first batch. they already got HO Placement
” dah tak perlu ligat memikirkan lepas ni nak apply part-time job kt mana.
dapat Hospital Putrajaya for my HO placement. insyaAllah this is the best. Doakan!! — feeling blessed. “
If they graduate from UKM, there are no issues.
Doctor, why did you say that one should not do medicine if he or she wants to migrate?
The answers are here in this blog. Unless you do medicine in that particular country, the chances of you getting a job there is slim. Furthermore your basic degree must be recognised in that country. It is very complicated and long winding process unlike other field.
Perdana University ‘bungkus’ already.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/top-us-medical-school-cuts-ties-with-perdana-u-over-money
YUP, I heard about this almost 3 months ago. I also heard that they were trying to negotiate. I did not want to write anything till it is official. Now it is official!
Actually not the whole Perdana Uni bungkus… only the PUGSOM arm. The other arm, PU-RCSI is still “handling well” at this moment of writing. Though the worrying fact which has never been disclosed clearly by their senior management, is their so called “permanent campus” at Putrajaya (I heard they have just had the ground breaking ceremony done a while ago) and the 600-bed private hospital. Also, if you ask their staff, there is no pay increment (unheard of in any private med school) for the last 3 years. They have 70 students per batch and 65-66 of them (I was told) are scholars, ie the financial status solely depends on the govt sponsorship.
Yup, I gave my comment on their so called hospital and the fee 3 years ago. Again, I must say I was spot on!
But probably you didn’t know about the PU-RCSI fees…which is also a whopping RM800k. The PUGSOM was RM1mil. But the way they did it was because they need to charge the scholars that amount (ie govt to pay) that’s why they mark up the figure. As for self sponsored students, they will be given a RM300k discount, and that would come to the usual competitive RM500k (on par with other private med schools).
The private hospital cannot survive unless they charge premium private rate but then which patient will be at their right mind to let medical student touch them if they pay a premium rate? If they don’t charge premium rate, it is impossible to survive without subsidy from gov.
YES, it is a private-public partnership. The government supports it via JPA scholarship.
http://afterschool.my/johns-hopkins-university-school-of-medicine-cuts-ties-with-perdana-university/
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/top-us-medical-school-cuts-ties-with-perdana-u-over-money
I wonder why they wanted to build the perdana university in the first place. If they want to establish a medicine hub, why not use the current univ eg; UM, UKM in which they have better experience. Just upgrade the facilities and improve the curriculum whatsoever. One of my friend who didnt even get an A for Biology in SPM got accepted for medicine (1st batch 2010) via JPA scholarship, after being rejected by MARA. I know the minimum requirement is B+ but it seemed like they were desperate to have students. I guess that was just her luck but now that this happen, what will happen to them? They become the victims of greedy politicians and businessmen.
Why? If you look at the money trail on how they get the funding of the construction of this medical school and hospital and which companies got the contract? You will know why?
Welcome to Bolehland!
Press release from Perdana university
http://perdanauniversity.edu.my/press-release-18th-august-2014/
I guess they’re not done spending more USD!!
any news about whats bound to happen with their current MD AUCMS students ?
So far no accreditation from MMC. If I am not mistaken, they have not graduated yet. I may be wrong.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/07/27/singapore
This (old) news just made it that much worse for Perdana! Don’t they just look more foolish now, and it’s quite impossible to not know about what happened with Singapore, if you’re in the industry!
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/271987
hi dr, nice blog! I’m planning to pursue medicine in UPM, is it any good?
OK
Dr. Pagalavan,
given the current situation of unresolving crisis by AUCMS-USU programme
what are the options for the medical students who are sholars from govt to plan what to do next.?
Where does MMC stands upon this matter?
can they help by giving them credit transfers to other university?
or any other options?
they are final year students who are stucked in a limbo
lying helpless without no mercy from any institution.
not trying to pointing fingers but merely a concern guardian.
my daughter is a final year student for this programme but still no solution yet to be made for them.
yes UKM had absorbed all the students from AUCMS.
but how about other MD programmes?
27 final year medical student stucked but no one give a proper care to them.
isnt it a little but unfair?
to only sympathy but cannt do anything when reality is there are solutions.
just to let them hang without any proper education let alone leave my child being psychologically affected by this matter is just sad.
what are your opinions and suggestions?
thanks
Scholars, the gov will come up with something. No, the MMC MUST NOT compromise on their decision, NOT make exceptions. It is exactly this laissez-faire attitude that lead to this fiasco in the first place.
The final and most important advise, as always given by Paga and others here: caveat emptor.
AUCMS USU is still recognised by MMC. So, if they do graduate, they should be able to work. However, with the current situation , anything can happen. MMC can derecognise the degree.
Since your daughter is already in final year, you got no choice but to continue there. No credit transfer will happen in this stage , unless you go back and start from 3rd year all over again in the new university.
so whats the verdict eventually??did UKM accept those students from AUCMS?
What did you read?
Ahahahaa, maybe the comments 😛
there’s no harm in the question and no such thing as a silly question. why need to be cynical? a ‘yes’ is not that hard to type is it?
The answer is already up there!! So, my question is , did he even read the article in the first place!
Most do read but question their ability to “decipher” what they read is rough and tough for some!
MMA says too many doctor is the reason for the cutback in enrolment of medical students in public universities. So i wonder would MMA apply the same move on private medical schools? If not, only reduction of quota from ipta wouldn’t make a difference at all…
MMA have to make a big cut for Medical Student in Private Medical School too. Otherwise, they thought that it is still an opportunity for them to churn out “Big” moneys from the students with dream of doctor wannabi. And, some of them could be victimized by the greedy businessman cum politician such as the president from AU#M$.
@Dreamer and @Francis, it is not the MMA, which is a social organisation. You are thinking of the MMC. And actually, it is also not the MMC which determines enrolments, licensing of med schools, but the Ministry of Education.
The ‘sins’ of the MoE (previously MoHE) is now in the lap of the MoH and MMC to sort out.
dr. pagalavan,
i’m one of the concerned family members of one of the MD USU-AUCMS student.
based on the current situation, the college’s life on the line, what would you suggest for the students currently still staying there continuing their medical courses ( includng MD USU-AUCMS and MD AUCMS)?
While the financial status still not convinced being stable yet, and the schedule of all md programmes are messed up, and being in a situation where you can never be sure whether you’ll have your class the next morning,,is the decision for credit transfer be a wiser one (although they would have to transfer to 3rd yr) or they should just wait for the government to decide the college’s fate ( and wait for at least another 6 months, wasting yet another semester)?
Government can’t decide anything as it is a private university. You need to find your own ways. If I were you, I will leave the college. You can also ask MMC as to their accreditation status.
This year onwards, not much choices if you opt for transfer credit. Up north, only 3 universities left that you can try… AIMST, QUEST and RCMP-UniKL but AIMST (fees 286K) you got to start from year one again as some student from AUCMS 2nd year, recently joined AIMST from 1st year again. QUEST (fees 260K) and RCMP (fees 350K) are a better option if you want to transfer credit. If you are willing to come down to KL, you can try MAHSA (fees 320K) which have records of absorbing student thru’ transfer credit. CUCMS, no more MBBS intake since derecognised few years ago. SEGI (fees 300K) but limited intake (< 20, mostly East Malaysian student) as beginning 3rd year clinical, has to be posted back to Sarawak. UTAR intake < 20, as they were given low quota as they are specialist in Accountancy and Engineering courses. Lincoln (Ukraine image, not advisable, they have very few MBBS student now since JPA stopped sending scholars. As for the rest, not worth doing MBBS as it will cost you more than 500K to complete the course. Therefore, the number of student taking MBBS has gone down now. The above comments are without prejudice, as these are personal general opinion only.
What about MSU MBBS Shah Alam program?
MSU, can’t figure out why the percentage of non-bumi studying there is very low? Is there any political reason? As predicted by Dr. Pagalavan, there is a sudden drop in medic student in the country especially from this year onwards. No wonder, our Heath Minister Dr Subramaniam stressed that there will not be any issue at all on the over supply of doctors in the next few years. He still pushing for more intake of medic student both in public and private universities.
MSU also need money to study. Do you think all non bumi can afford this? Those who can afford obviously won’t choose MSU. So They have to depend on scholarship or PTPTN.
[…] several times about this college which was facing huge financial difficulties, over HERE, HERE and HERE. It started with the withdrawal of the twinning partners, which automatically removed 3 of its […]
[…] children. Unfortunately, what I feared most happened last year. As I wrote over HERE , HERE and HERE, the college finally closed down and all it’s students were forced to transfer to another […]
Hai Dr. Paglavan. Between NUmed and RCMP, in your opinion which one is a better choice?
I think NUmEd will be a better option.
Ok thanks dr. Can you comment on MBBS at Taylor’s University? Is it a good programme or not on par with other medical instituition? For example, IMU, Monash etc
New and have not produced graduates yet.
estimated fees for local students (quoted from the universities’ websites)
NuMed- RM95,000 per annum = RM475,000
Monash- RM 96,460 per annmu = RM482,300
RCMP – RM 277,000
Taylor – RM 402,538
choose the most expensive one!
How is UCSI Medical Program Vs. RMCP VS AIMST VS MSU . Which one has less management problem and enough lecturers .
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.js
Difficult to say. Most universities have same problems.