Kuala lumpur: The enforcement of the Medical (Amendment) Act 2024 [Act A1729] and the implementation of the Medical (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective today, mark a significant milestone in the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) ongoing efforts to enhance governance, transparency, and inclusivity in Malaysia’s medical profession.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the amendments to the Medical Regulations provide the necessary legal framework to enforce the provisions introduced under the amended Act. The new regulations establish a clear and consistent pathway for the recognition and registration of specialists trained through the Parallel Pathway and the local Master of Medicine programme. These changes clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) in ensuring that all specialist qualifications are evaluated fairly and transparently.
Dzulkefly further explained that the amendments strengthen MMC’s structure and composition to ensure a more balanced representation, aligning with the current profile of the healthcare workforce, particularly in the public sector. He noted that the amendments provide a solid legal foundation for all local specialist training programmes, ensuring they are recognised and administered in a more structured manner. This will enable specialists who were previously in a state of uncertainty to be properly assessed and registered, allowing them to serve the public more effectively.
He added that the reforms ensure equitable access to high-quality specialist care and strengthen public confidence, as all specialists serving in the healthcare system are held to the same competency standards regardless of the training route. Dzulkefly emphasized that MOH remains committed to ongoing engagement with stakeholders, driving innovation, and implementing reforms to ensure Malaysia’s healthcare system remains resilient, inclusive, and future-ready.
On June 5 last year, the Cabinet agreed to amend the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) to address the registration of specialists under the Parallel Pathway and to streamline the local Master of Medicine route. The amendments were passed by Parliament on July 17, 2024.