Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said the new regulation would allow MMC to be more independent from certain restraints or limitations.
“Currently, MMC is under the health ministry and it does not have that much freedom. However, this new regulation will make the council more independent and free it from certain restraints or limitations from public resources,” he said.
“In terms of membership of the council, its composition will now include representatives from private higher education institutions.”
Subramaniam said this would allow a balanced input from academics as well as doctors from the public and private sector.
He added that the council would have to manage its financial accounts and generate its own revenue.
“Although the Medical (Amendment) Act 2012 was amended five years ago, the ministry was waiting for the approval of the new regulations from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, hence the delay,” Subramaniam said.
Under the new regulations, it is now compulsory for all medical specialists to register with MMC under the National Specialist Registry before January 2018.
“We are giving them six months to register. If specialists do not sign up by January 2018, and continue practising as specialists, then legal action will be taken against them,” Subramaniam said at a press conference at the MMC headquarters here today with Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
Subramaniam added that doctors renewing their Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) were now required to fulfil two requirements before their certificate could be approved.
He said the first requirement was for private doctors to have professional indemnity insurance, which would give them protection in cases of malpractice where legal action is taken against them.
“Before this, it was voluntary, but now it is compulsory. No private doctor is allowed to practise without this insurance.”
He said those working for the government would not need this insurance unless they are locums.
“However, the insurance is a must for doctors in private institutions,” said Subramaniam.
The second requirement is continuing professional development points to ensure that doctors continuously update their knowledge and skills based on the latest medical information for the benefit of their patients.
“It can be in the form of certificates of recent skills or knowledge. This is important so that our doctors are well equipped with recent changes and technology,” Subramaniam said.
“These requirements will only take effect on Jan 1, 2019, which provides medical practitioners ample time to comply with them.”
He said details on what the points are and how they can be collected would be listed on MMC’s website.
“We will gradually increase the points over the years. Doctors can start collecting their points from next year for their APC.”
The Medical (Amendment) Act 2012, which is an amendment to the Medical Act 1971, and the Medical Regulations 2017, which will replace the Medical Regulation 1974, will come into force on July 1.