The new amended Medical Act 2012 has been approved by Parliament end of last year. As such, effective from now,MMC has the authority to accreditate and register specialists in this country. MMC recently adopted the latest registration procedures for foreign doctors applying for work, do research or postgraduate education in Malaysia. I get asked a lot of questions from foreigners who wanted to work in Malaysia or do the local Master’s program. The standard rule still applies, that your basic degree MUST be recognised in Malaysia. If not, you need to sit and pass the MQE exams. Exemption can be given if you have more than 10 years experience working as a doctor or you have a recognised specialist qualification (for teaching and research). Those who are given registration to do postgraduate education must leave back to their home country upon completing the course unless you can show prove of any employment offered locally.
As for specialist returning from overseas claiming to be a specialist, a new Specialist Evaluation Committee has been formed to look into their qualification. Either you must be a well renowned specialist, have qualification recognised by MMC/NSR or have unrecognised qualification that have equal number of years of training as in Malaysia with 5 years of experience ( 4 years in public hospital of adequate size). They may even ask the specialist to undergo certain amount of supervised attachment before registering as a specialist.
You can read the procedures in this document. This is a good move to prevent anyone from calling themselves a specialist. Finally, something is in place to monitor this.
hello sir, thnaks for your posts. they have been very enlightening.
I am a newly grad early this year and thinking to continue my internship training and postgrad study overseas.
I just need some clarification, what does it mean by 5 years of clinical experience? Does it include the specialty training years or only counted after getting the master degrees?
This also includes the condition that says that I have to complete 4 years of related medical training if I return to Malaysia with MRCP cert. Does it include the years before MRCP or after?
It all depends on the type of specialist degree you have. If it is an unrecognised degree that you need 5 years experience after obtaining the specialist degree. For MRCP is 4 years of internal medicine training . KKM will decide whether you need further assessment before can be gazetted as physician.
thank you sir. another follow up question.
as a malysian, if I just finished the unrecognised master degree, can I complete the 5 year clinical experience in malaysia?
Only as MO but no guarantee of a specialist gazettement