IN 2012, the medical fraternity was shocked when our previous health minister announced that private institutions will be included as institutions conducting MQE examination. It use to be only UM, UKM and USM. With the announcement, some of the established private universities were selected to conduct the MQE examinations which is basically their own final year examination. The other shocking statement from our minister was that, unlimited number of sitting will be allowed and the student can choose where they want to sit for the exams. I wrote about it over HERE. Personally, I feel that any professional exam should have a limit. Even nursing board examinations has a limit. Even final year medical school examinations and post-graduate examinations have a limit on the maximum number of sittings. Subsequently , MMC released the amended regulations for MQE and the list of institutions. Section 4(3) of the regulations says that the candidate will be posted to the institution of their choice. Section 5 says that , the candidates have to follow the rules of the institution in resitting of the examinations and imposition of any fee.
Early this year, while I was talking to someone in MMC, I was told that they are going to change the rules again. The new 2015 regulations for MQE has been released and gazetted on 25/03/2015. The new rule says that once MMC finds you eligible to sit for the MQE examination ( if you fulfil the minimum entry requirement), MMC will decide on the institution where you will be sitting the examination (Section 4(3) ). The fee has also been increased to Rm 1 000 for application process (from the previous RM 200). It also says that you can only resit for a maximum of 3 times ! This basically means that if you fail the MQE for 4 consecutive times ( 1 + resit 3 times), you will never be able to practise as a doctor.
Frankly, I feel it is not worth going to an unrecognised university. With the current glut, the situation will only get worst.
Happy Merdeka Day 2015
dear doc, im wondering if msu mbbs private univ is recognisable? please doctor, give your very honest opinion in whatever in your mind right now.
You should open this list of MMC-recognized medical programs:
Click to access Second%20Schedule%20-%20Updated%2020141121.pdf
its good that something good is finally coming out!
With so many IPTS med schools, mostly extremely easy to enter, I do not see why anyone would go to a unrecognised uni to study anymore.
All IPTS fees above RM300K but you can still do an MBBS overseas in certain countries within the range RM150K only. Probably this is the reason why there are still student going for unrecognised universities overseas to realise their dream.
Yes, cost is one factor, but the recognised Russian ones are also about that, why unrecognised unis? And I have been informed, it’s false economy, in Russia, the cost of living is high, and the final costs after adding everything in is also RM250-300K. Although the Rouble has sunk, the fees are in USD!
Yes if you sum up everything, things in Russia are no cheaper than Malaysia.. then why go to unrecognised uni and come back whining to the government ?
Many brilliant students choose to study medicine and many average or mediocre students also choose medicine. Why do average students choose medicine? Its becoz they get the same pay as their smarter colleagues when working in the gomen. Better still, those with good PR and connections goes up much faster. I don’t see we having the political will to change the situation.
The same applies to other professions like accountants, engineers and others.
Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian is a very respected cardiologist in Sarawak. Read what he said:
http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/09/05/tough-luck-for-fresh-medical-graduates/
Prof Sim is not clear in his comments, or maybe it’s the proverbial Malaysian media “misquote”.
It is not that the government doesn’t want to create more housemanship jobs, but that there are strict guidelines as to how many housemans can be taken in any hospital based on criteria like number of beds and number of specialists, and spread of specialities available. At the moment, there are 10,800 posts. Over 2 years, that nominally means an annual intake of 5400 a year. That is more than enough for Malaysia’s needs.
The problem is now that there are more than 5400 graduates needing to perform the compulsory housemanship. The numbers may reach 7000 a year. So there is already a wait list, and that will get longer.
In addition, there are NOT actually 5400 places coming available every year. Up to 20% of housemans get retained in one or multiply posting for various periods of time, usually 1-3 months. They then hold on to these posts, and until they vacate, new housemans cannot be taken in.
Bottom line is, Malaysia is training too many doctors. It is too easy to enter Med schools. Too many of these fresh graduates are poorly trained and even frankly incompetent. Too many have bad attitudes, perhaps from being forced to do medicine against their will by their parents.
Housemanship “bottleneck” is NOT the problem. There isn’t a real bottleneck. Nominally, Malaysia has reached the targeted 1:600 ratio already, and only needs 3000 new doctors a year to keep that ratio. Over production is. So who is responsible for this overproduction?
Hi Dr Paga, Im currently a fifth year med student from Monash Uni Malaysia. it’s unfortunate you’re no longer teaching here, why is that doc? I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind me asking them, (sorry my questions are probably unrelated to your post above, and I wasn’t sure where to post the questions.
I have been thinking a lot on what to pursue when I finish my horsemanship and after mulling for some time, I have decided I might probably want to do Psychiatry. I have been talking to many doctors at the hospital and they say you won’t necessarily get posted to the Psych dept as an MO after horsemanship and in that case:
1. What would the options be if I still want to pursue psychiatry
2. Currently MRCpsych is now recognized. Do you know how it works in Malaysia ?
3. I have also heard that in recent years it’s rather difficult to get into the Masters programme for Psychiatry.
4. In an event I’m posted to another department (not psych), can I take a break till a spot becomes available? Or should I put up with what I get and wait till I can get into Pscyh dept.
Thanks doc Paga.
I left due to internal matters.
Decide what you want to do after completing housemanship. I know many students who said they would like to do this and that but some ended up resigning all together. As a student, you do not know anything about the actual working life of a doctor. When I was a student, most of my batchmates wanted to do O&G. None of them ended up doing it!
1) Either Master’s or MRCPsych (you need to go to UK for exams)
2) Ask Dr Siva. He knows more
3) Yes, widely written in my blog
4) No such thing. You are a civil servant. You go where you are posted depending on availability of post. But you can apply till a spot is available.
thanks dr paga! best wishes
Reblogged this on AARONN AVIT.
Sorry for the out of topic question but may i ask, is dentistry nowadays having the same problem as doctors as you have stated in every one of your blog ?, thank youu
Hi Dr Pagal, I want to share my experience with you regarding MQE of how I was cheated of my hard earned money and dignity.
I studied in an instituition which was not recognised in Malaysia (but top 10 world ranking) and graduated as a dean lister and obtained a cumloude in MBBS. I was offered to do the specialization in the field I desired the most Neurosurgery on full scholarship in my alumni (which I rejected to come to Malaysia). Once here, after a long wait, I was my degree was not recognised and I needed to sit for MQE by KKM and was referred to MMC and given a long list of medical schools (gov+pvt) and assured me a post to do my HO (I have already done upon my post graduation). The sum asked was beyond my financial capability. I went to CUCMS and was told by a blessed soul there not to persue there as there is a quota system and they can only pass a certain people and they prefer to pass their own students. It costs RM80,000++ to do it there,btw! Then after shortlisting a few gov unis, I short listed USM and UM. I finally decided on UM as it was the cheepest and nearest to me. Together with other 6, we sat for the 6 month “course” and completed the MQE exam with an overall price tag of RM35,000. I passed, on first attempt. I was also recommended by the dean and vice dean for a post in surgical dept in PPUM. I then submitted my certs amd waited…for 2 more years as a football between KKM, MMC, JPA and SPA. Finally I have recieved a letter which told me my application cant be considered and thank you for your interest. I have burnt all my financial means, with no job and huge loan, am pushed into living in a 2by2 for for last 3 years all in vain. The funny thing is meeting this guy who is a very prominent person sitting in KKM telling me, oh we have now de linked MQE as it serves only as a money making vehicle!! Am over being frustrated and angry.. Am sure they will pay, all of them, for the injustice, lack of empathy and mst importantly for cheating me of my money and dignity!
Why don’t you just tell us which “top 10” University you graduated from? I am not aware there is any top 10 Uni not recognised in Msia.
Also, it’s not a MQA requirement, but a MMC requirement that if you are not a graduate from a Section 13/2 university, that you need to sit for the MQE. And yes, you still need to undergo the 2 years Housemanship, if you have not undergone a recognised equivalent elsewhere. And getting a Provisional Registration and a HO job is not an issue, waiting list notwhtistanding, unless you are not a Malaysian.
Your story sounds very weird. If you are a Malaysian, after passing MQE, you are eligible for MMC provisional registration. However, due to current situation, many restriction are being implemented. It is SPA that gives you a post in civil service, NOT KKM. Thus, only SPA can decide whether you can be employed. The question is why they rejected your application? Do you have SPM BM or fulfilled the Min Entry requirement? Something is wrong somewhere.
You can also try to apply to university hospitals as HO under MOE.
As far as I know, all top ranking universities in the world are in MMC list.
[…] not get a job for housemanship. Those who go to unrecognised university will not be able to sit for MQE examination if you do not possess the minimum qualifications. I hope ignorant parents and students will […]
[…] up trying to educate the public! MMC has introduced a new fee structure for MQE examination. I did write last year that MMC had increased the registration fee to RM 1000 with maximum of 4 attempts. This year they […]
I made the biggest mistake of my life by going to an unrecognized uni in the philippines. I have done the MQE and failed. dunno wtf am i gona’ do if i fail again. wasted 7 years of my life for a degree that is worth sh*t, Planning to redo med over again in Malaysia. Any suggestions or help is much appreciated(may save a man from committing suicide)
You have 4 attempt at MQE. Do that first. It is not worth doing medicine again in Malaysia.
IMHO repeating a med degree in Malaysia is not a wise move, as it is costly, time consuming and you will end up in a very much the similar “not worth sh*t” predicament. Consider the time and money that you spent for the worthless Philippines degree as a sunk cost and aim to avoid/cut further losses. One way out is to do Master and PhD which are less costly and you will have a wider job prospect in the academia (private universities) or research institution.
He can only do masters or PhD in nonclinical sector.