KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) are considering the establishment of a new body – the Medical Specialty Training Council (Majlis Latihan Kepakaran Perubatan) – to harmonise specialist medical training.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad told Parliament, however, that the proposal remains at an early stage. In a written Dewan Rakyat reply on February 10, Dzulkefly said the proposal is currently at the discussion phase, with a concept paper being prepared by the Council of Medical Faculty Deans under MOHE.
“I would like to thank Kuala Langat for the question raised regarding the Medical Specialty Training Council, which I am informed is still at an early stage, namely at the discussion phase and preparation of a proposal paper by the Council of Medical Faculty Deans under the Ministry of Higher Education,” Dzulkefly said.
Dzulkefly was responding to a question from Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN–Kuala Langat) on whether the government planned to establish a council to ensure more efficient and harmonised implementation of specialist medical training between MOHE institutions and MOH.
The reply also signals that while inter-ministry coordination on specialist training remains under discussion, MOH is prioritising regulatory reforms and existing governance frameworks before committing to the creation of a new oversight body.
Dzulkefly indicated that MOH’s immediate priority is implementing recent amendments to the Medical Act 1971 (Act 50) and its regulations, which came into force on July 1, 2025.
“At present, MOH and the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) are giving full focus to coordination to fulfil all requirements and changes provided for under the amended Act. The priority is to strengthen synergy within the existing framework, ensure clear division of roles, and achieve more efficient operations before deciding on the establishment of any new entity,” he said.
Dzulkefly said the amendments form part of broader health reforms aimed at sustaining specialist training and increasing the number of medical specialists nationwide. As an early outcome, the MMC has registered 18 practitioners as specialists under the revised framework.
“As evidence of early success, the Malaysian Medical Council has registered five practitioners holding the qualification ‘Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Cardiothoracic Surgery’ through the Parallel Pathway Specialist Training, and 13 practitioners holding the qualification Master of Pathology (Medical Genetics) as Medical Specialists in the Specialist Register, whether in the MOH or the MOHE,” Dzulkefly said.
