Medical Course Freeze, No new programmes for 5 years to ensure quality Training
“Based on the current crop of medical graduates from existing institutions of higher learning, the country can reach its target of one medical officer to 400 people (1:400) by 2020."
KUALA LUMPUR: A freeze of five years on new medical courses has been imposed on institutions of higher learning in the country.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the freeze, effective May 1, will end on April 30, 2016.
He said, in a statement yesterday, the cabinet decided on the moratorium based on several factors, including the marked increase in the number of medical graduates, the competency of housemen, teaching staff and teaching hospitals.
“Based on the current crop of medical graduates from existing institutions of higher learning, the country can reach its target of one medical officer to 400 people (1:400) by 2020.
“This can be achieved in stages without having to add new medical courses,” Khalid said. At the moment, Malaysia’s doctor-to-patient ratio is 1:1,000.
Khaled said it was more important to establish a form of control to ensure that graduates could undergo quality medical training to become competent doctors.
“Apart from that, a moratorium on new intake was also suggested to institutions that have not met accreditation standards and criteria. The current accreditation, he said, could be withdrawn until improvements had been carried out.
The freeze, however, would not affect the number of medical officers needed in the country, he said.
“The number of graduates from the 33 existing institutions as well as foreign graduates who return to Malaysia will be enough to meet the country’s needs by the year 2020,” Khaled said.
As of Jan 31, there were 11 public and 22 private institutions of higher learning that offered medical degrees with a total of 47 cour ses.
Only 17 of these institutions had been given accreditation, including eight public institut i o n s.
In early March, Khaled had said the ministry was considering a moratorium on the offer of medical programmes at public and private institutions of higher learning due to a shortage of academic manpower and teaching hospitals.
He has also said the ministry would not approve medical programmes or the setting up of medical faculties at public institutions of higher learning without the approval of the Malaysian Medical Council.
Up to Feb 28, the ministry had approved the registration of 25 universities, 22 university colleges and five branch campuses of foreign universities.
Former Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican concurred that there were enough medical schools and it would not make sense to build more.
He said the focus now should be given on training housemen.
“I would be happier if they (housemen) can be trained in a more structured manner.”
17 accredited medical training and teaching institutions
1. Universiti Malaya
2. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
3. Universiti Sains Malaysia
4. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
5. Universiti Putra Malaysia
6. Penang Medical College
7. Universiti Perubatan Antarabangsa
8. Universiti Islam Antarabangsa
9. Mangalore University/ Manipal Academy of Higher Education
10. Royal College of Medicine Perak (MBBS-Malaya Programme)
11. Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology
12. Universiti Teknologi Mara
13. Universiti Malaysia Sabah
14. Alliance College of Medical Sciences
15. Monash University Sunway Campus
16. UCSI University
17. Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences
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