OPENING REMARKS BY

 

YB DATUK ROSNAH BT HJ ABD RASHID SHIRLIN

DEPUTY MINISTER OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

 

OPENING CEREMONY

 

THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REDEFINING & REFORMING MEDICAL EDUCATION

 

DATE / TIME :

 

THURSDAY, JULY 21^st, 2011 @ 9.00 AM

 

VENUE :

 

ARAS 2, PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE, KUALA LUMPUR

 

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

 

Assalammualaikum, Salam Sejahtera Dan Salam 1 Malaysia

 

Thank you to the Master of Ceremony,

 

Yang Berbahagia Ir. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Amin Alias

Conference Director

Worldwide Corporate Resources

 

 

Yang Berbahagia Prof. Dr. Zarida Binti Hambali

Director

Academic Development Management Division

Ministry Of Higher Education

 

Distinguished Presenters

 

Valued Participants,

 

And Friendly Medias,

 

Distinguished Guests,

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

A very Good Morning & Salam Satu Malaysia,

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizer, Worldwide Corporate Resources for graciously inviting me to officiate this National Conference on Redefining & Reforming Medical Education: A Call for Safer, Better and More Accountable Healthcare.

 

It is understood that the objectives of todayâ??s National Conference is to redefine and renegotiate the healthcare landscape on uncharted territories by providing and channeling a roadmap, on balancing safety and accountability. It is hoped that the presentations and discussions that will be held soon will offer delegates a constructive and compelling case for building a plethora of exclusive insights on the healthcare landscape on issues, causes and solutions.

 

This conference is a platform for the realization of intelligent dialogue and to consolidate disparate, divergent or like-minded voices, to realize coherent and cohesive dialogues; and to disseminate information on care and safety which are matters of public interest, for a more informed society.

In order to accomplish these goals, accurate, reliable and pragmatic information are necessary.  Exposure, knowledge and awareness of the newly defined amendments and critical issues in health care are very salient and important considerations. Those involved in the health care industry need to make accurate decisions, stay current with the latest news, regulations and methods in the healthcare profession. They need to keep abreast with  government agendas, opportunities and groundbreaking ideas, mine rich resources, engage in dialogues that are rich with substance, share and emulate unique experiences and best practices. It is also equally important that they should gain insightful knowledge and study key issues to improve their performance and effectiveness. Their Performance and service delivery must be continuously improved, I need to emphasise here that one of the most important element to consider is on â??Knowledgeâ?? that is relevant, and that encompasses appropriate education, training and experience to produce a workforce that is efficient and effective.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I will discuss some important issues that require immediate attention and concerted efforts from all quarters to address. There are various issues that the medical world and global health care in general and in Malaysia in particular are facing.  Among the issues facing the health care scenario in Malaysia today is the influx of nursing colleges-where the current statistics show that there are 106 nursing institutions in existence to date.  Thus, what ensued as a consequent of this phenomenon is that the quality and safety issues as well as the accountability of nurses to patients themselves are now being disputed and questioned.  There is a possibility that there are gaps in the education systems. Doubts are cast on the products of the various institutions, as well as the quality of service delivery by the nurses.

 

 

Citing a speech by our Esteemed Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Datoâ?? Liow Tiong Lai, in conjunction with the opening of the International Nurses Day on May 12, 2011 he stated that \"A career in nursing involves the practice of integrated Team Work\".  Yes, this aspect is crucial indeed in achieving the successful delivery of services. He further added that \"As of December 2010, Malaysian nurses from the public and private sectors are numbered more than 90 thousand people. Meanwhile, the theme of Nursesâ?? Day celebration in 2011 is \"Closing the Gap: Increasing Access and Equityâ??. Therefore in view of that, we must endeavor to identify what are the gaps that need to be addressed.

 

At the Ministry of Health level, there are a variety of programs, guidelines, policies for health care and medical practice.  Among them are the Guidelines for CPD (Continuous Professional Development). There are also programmes for nurses/midwives for which there is a guideline for the development of nursing based on the requirements and evaluations results.  Activities such as workshops and conferences are conducted, nevertheless a heightened sense of awareness should be instilled, and that all these endeavors should be enhanced and value added.

It should be noted and observed that at the Global level, one of the aims of the roadmap of many nations is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which is to reduce disparities and close gaps on matters related to equality to health rights and access at all levels, notwithstanding rich or poor, and does not discriminate gender and age, nor differentiate those from the rural or urban population. Among the goals related to the healthcare domain are the MDG Goals 4, 5 and 6; which are to â??Reduce Child Mortality Rateâ??, â??Improve Maternal Healthâ?? and â??Combat HIV/AID, Malaria and Other Diseasesâ?? by 2015. Hence in order to realize these goals, comprehensive and concerted efforts at the national level should be in place, starting from the grassroots, right up to the policy makers and administrators.

 

Although there exist various Acts and policies involving medical and healthcare, the workforce is a very essential and vital component, supported by a conducive infrastructure with adequate equipment and infrastructure, and complemented with knowledge and experience. Amongst the various Acts in the field of medicine and healthcare in Malaysia to mention a few are the: Amended Medical Act 1974, the Mental Health Act 2001, Private Healthcare Facilities And Services Act 1998, Fees Act 1951â??Fees (Medical)(Amendment) Order 1994, the Fees Act 1951â??Fees (Medical) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 1994 and many more.  However, this is not enough if the accountability, efficiency and high work commitments is still at low levels or are non-existent.  Positive attitudes and high efficiency should be nurtured and trained at the tertiary level, education institutions, training centres and other institutions.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

There is the emergence of many new medical institutions akin to mushrooms that emerged after the rain.  Too Fast and Too Soon which resulted in low-performing medical schools of which the quality can be disputed.  Consequently, there arise questions on: Are their curriculums, admission process, research facilities and lecturers, given an appropriate and commensurate accreditation and authorization? What are the standards, the legitimacy and quality assurance carried out at these new medical schools? These are critical questions that haunt us. Given the present situation, there are 33 medical institutions in Malaysia. We are apprehensive on the possibility that just because these institutions desires to meet market and industry solely for the commercial values and returns, quality and accountability are neglected and compromised by taking shortcuts and cutting corners.

 

Public perceptions are that, the MQE-Medical Qualifying Exams is not standardised and transparent enough, which has aroused public concerns. However, this particular concern with regards to MQE are being scrutinised and addressed to ensure benchmarked standards are adhered to., irrespective of race, the country where the prospective doctor or doctors from abroad is coming from, and even from Malaysia, as well as aspects as from which medical education centre that they graduated from there is no compromise on what the standard evaluation system should be all should go through a rigorous Malaysian MQE.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Doctors, nurses and those who entered the Medical and Health Care industry must have a keen interest in the field, commitment, endurance, possesses deep comprehensive knowledge that is appropriate, which is extensive and up-to-date in their chosen fields, their qualifications
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