
Dzul: Amendments beefed up medical profession
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad ( pic ) said this significant achievement is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, transparency and inclusiveness in the medical profession.
'The amendment to the Medical Regulations provides the necessary legal framework to implement the provisions of the amended Act.
'It creates a clear and consistent path for the recognition and registration of specialists trained through the parallel pathway programme and local specialist training.
'The amendment clarifies the role and responsibilities of the Malaysian Medical Council in ensuring that all practitioners with certain qualifications are assessed fairly and transparently,' he said in a statement.
Dzulkefly also said the membership of the council have been strengthened to be more equitable in terms of its composition in accordance with the current status of the health workforce.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Federal Court grants bail to businessmen charged with organised crime links
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has granted bail of RM50,000 each for two businessmen charged with being members of an organised crime group, pending the outcome of their trial. The court also imposed conditions for the two men to wear electronic monitoring devices and remain within the compound of their respective homes. The decision on Thursday (July 3) was made in a 2-1 majority by a three-member panel led by Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan. She said the majority were of the view that S. Hemanathan, 31, and 39, had made out their case primarily due to their health conditions, coupled with the inability of the prison system to attend to or care for prisoners who need special medical attention. "They are prohibited from travelling outside of their residential home without reasonable consent of the police and must report to the nearest police station once every two weeks. Also, they may travel to hospitals for treatment of their medical conditions with the permission of the police, which should not be unreasonably withheld," she said. Justice Datuk Hanipah Farikullah supported the majority ruling, while Justice Abu Bakar Jais dissented. Earlier, defence counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh had urged the court to allow bail on medical grounds. He said Nithiyan suffers from ischemic heart disease, hypertension and dyslipidemia, which could lead to life-threatening cardiovascular failure without consistent treatment, while Hemanathan, who uses a wheelchair, suffers from diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and high cholesterol, and has not received consistent treatment in prison. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Siew Wee argued that both men had received necessary treatment and their conditions were under control. Hemanathan and Nithiyan were charged in the Sessions Court in May last year for being members of an organised crime "Geng TR" in Sunggai Janggut Seafood Restaurant in Jalan Bagan Sungai Janggut, Jeram, Selangor between November 2019 and May 2024. They were charged under Section 130V of the Penal Code, read together with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma). Their case was transferred to the High Court in Aug last year, and the trial is fixed to begin in October next year. - Bernama


New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Digitalising Malaysia's medical landscape
KUALA LUMPUR: Digitalisation has taken the world by storm, and to keep up with the fast-paced cycle of changes, there is a growing need to develop a more integrated healthcare system in Malaysia, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. Recognising the urgent need for transformation to streamline processes and accelerate digital-driven initiatives, the Health Ministry has introduced several key structural strategies to support the nationwide digitalisation of all health clinics by 2027 and all hospitals by 2029. MySejahtera app is being transformed into a one-stop digital health platform while hundreds of Klinik Kesihatan have been and are being digitalised. Dr Dzulkefly said the initiatives are firmly underway as the ministry accelerates its goal of delivering efficient, equitable and technology-enabled healthcare services across the nation. The ministry is integrating Malaysians' complete medical records into the MySejahtera app, he added. The ministry recently included a digital capture of dental visit records and pharmacy dispensing records alongside the virtual consultation reports, health screening results and past vaccination records in MySejahtera. "To date, 1.9 million dental records have been integrated into the system, and four million pharmacy records are currently stored and managed within MySejahtera. "Moving forward, the ministry is dedicated to ensuring an integrated health summary where records from the hospital and clinic visit can be stored and retrieved via the MySejahtera app. "By unifying these records, MySejahtera empowers both healthcare providers and patients with timely, accurate, and accessible health information, improving continuity of care and enhancing patient engagement," he told Business Times in an email interview. Dr Dzulkefly said as MySejahtera continues to evolve, it will play a pivotal role in building a connected, patient-centric digital health ecosystem. Government Clinics Going Digital As for government clinic digitalising, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry aims to digitalise 200 Klinik Kesihatan. "Digitalising them will ensure reduction in patient waiting time and more importantly delivering optimum patient care." However, he said before fully committing to healthcare digitisation, the state of digital infrastructure in hospitals must be evaluated, as even the most advanced solutions cannot be effectively implemented without a solid foundation. "I will be frank with you. Many hospitals in Malaysia lack the necessary digital infrastructure. "Outdated hardware, insufficient network capabilities and fragmented data systems continue to create bottlenecks and hinder system implementation. This is the reality." Malaysia has close to 150 government hospitals, but as of today, only 22 hospitals have a fully functional digital infrastructure, he added. "Additionally, there are around 1,118 health clinics nationwide, with only 206 equipped with the necessary infrastructure for the electronic medical record (EMR) system. "Equipping our facilities with adequate hardware and reliable network infrastructure, along with adopting a comprehensive and robust EMR system tailored to the ministry's requirements, is essential to ensure digital readiness and accelerate the pace of digitalisation," he said. Constraints And Solutions Nevertheless, the minister said budget constraints remain a challenge, limiting the pace of expanding and upgrading digital infrastructure across healthcare facilities. Dr Dzulkefly said while the ministry continues to face funding constraints, it is continuously exploring ways to tackle the issue. "This includes assessing each hospital's readiness and equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to successfully implement digital healthcare systems," he noted. Commenting on data security in the digitalisation of the health industry, he said the ministry is fully aware of public concerns regarding the security and safety of digital systems. Network penetration in rural areas also remains a key issue. He noted that Malaysia has several satellite internet-equipped clinics that are bridging connectivity gaps in rural areas, ensuring remote communities have access to essential healthcare services. The minister highlighted that satellite internet equipped clinics can now experience the advancements of the service including tele-consultation. As of April this year, a total of 1,089 virtual consultations have been conducted between remote communities and health clinics in Sabah and Sarawak using these satellite-enabled facilities. "Apart from that, we have also strengthened audit systems under National Cyber Security Agency, Malaysia Office of the Chief Government Security Officer and National Digital Department on data, security infrastructure and best practices on monitoring, proactive actions. "These have also been presented in Parliament. Our aim is to work alongside industry experts to equip us with industry best practices to improve and encourage digital systems usage in the healthcare system," he said. Legacy Issues Speaking on the legacy issues in Malaysia's health industry, Dr Dzulkefly acknowledged that there are longstanding challenges within the system. The ministry is actively addressing them by introducing improved practices and structural reforms. He said it is focused on long-term solutions that strengthen governance, enhance service delivery and accelerate the adoption of digital tools to resolve these issues effectively and prevent their recurrence. One of the longstanding challenges being addressed is the medical officer placement system, which does not fully reflect current needs or priorities. "The previous placement systems often created a situation where individuals had to race to secure positions, with speed taking precedence over suitability or merit. "This approach placed unnecessary pressure on applicants and did not always result in the best match for service needs. "As such, we are not merely upgrading the technology stack, we are rethinking the policy foundations beneath it. "Our goal is to gradually shift towards a more transparent, responsive, and merit-aligned process that better reflects workforce needs, applicant preferences, and national service priorities," he added. Dr Dzulkefly also said the introduction of the updated e-Placement is one part of the ministry's broader reform agenda. He said beyond digitalisation, this is about fairness, accountability and building public trust in how the ministry conducts its business of improving the health of Malaysians. Furthermore, he said the ministry recognises the rapid changes in the industry and has adapted by leveraging industry experts to provide the most effective tools and software solutions. As part of this strategy, the ministry is now partnering with specialised experts to strengthen and accelerate its digital capabilities. This has enabled it to optimise resources, reduce costs and ensure that the country is equipped with the latest, most efficient technologies that are on par with industry standards. "For perspective, it previously took the ministry 15 years to digitalise 107 clinics using an on-premise based EMR system. "In contrast, with the subscription-based cloud-based clinic management system, 50 clinics were digitalised in just two months. "This resulted in significant savings in both time and cost and sets the stage for us to accelerate the digitalisation of the remaining healthcare facilities under the ministry's purview," he said.


Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sinar Daily
Ketum leaf users can be sent to rehab even if not addicted
The government also encourages voluntary treatment for drug abusers as this approach is deemed supportive of an individual's recovery journey. 02 Jul 2025 08:58am The same action could also be taken against users of other illicit substances, such as ecstasy, even if the user does not show signs of addiction. KUALA LUMPUR - The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) has now been empowered to direct ketum leaf users to undergo treatment at the agency's rehabilitation centre even if they do not show symptoms of addiction. AADK director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the authority was obtained after the Dewan Rakyat passed the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Bill 2024 last year. "Previously they may have escaped action because (AADK) did not have the legal power to detain them, but now, even if they are not addicted, they can still be subject to treatment if they test positive and found to be abusing the substance,' he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV's 'Ruang Bicara: Drug Prevention' programme tonight. Ruslin elaborated that the same action could also be taken against users of other illicit substances, such as ecstasy, even if the user does not show signs of addiction. "Even if the individual in question takes (drugs) once a year, if he is detected, we can take action under the Drug Dependants Act,' he said. Ruslin said the government also encourages voluntary treatment for drug abusers as this approach is deemed supportive of an individual's recovery journey. He said the approach reflects the government's commitment to tackling substance abuse through a more inclusive and progressive treatment and rehabilitation framework. The Dewan Rakyat passed the bill in July last year, which, among other things, will help the government regulate and improve the management and operation of private drug rehabilitation centres in the country. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail noted that the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 did not have a provision requiring the registration of private rehabilitation centres. - BERNAMA