Effective assessment of specialist training & quality of specialists, 10.2.2007

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw proposes that the Health Ministry set up a truly effective assessment of the training and quality of specialists in the country. This must be followed by monitoring of the quality of specialist care in conjunction with respective professional bodies. The effectiveness of the Medical Council must be reviewed.

Dr Tan is concerned with the lack of specialists including cardiologists and complaints about the quality of specialist care in Malaysia. Most specialists try to provide the best care. But, there are black sheep.

On 6 February, 2007, the Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said that there were only 140 cardiac and cardiothoracic specialists, but the country needed 500 cardiovascular specialists. Out of the 140, 30 were chest specialists. We required at least 100 chest specialists. The minister did not touch on the criteria for evaluating the shortage.

Dr Chua attributes the shortage to the 12 years of training for cardiologists. He is right about the shortage, but he must look at not just the training of cardiologists but also other specialists.

This year, the ministry spends RM39,346,000 for cardiology and cardiothoracic specialty. The total allocation for medical treatment is RM4,547,817,000. Following this big expenditure, we have to improve our medical services including heart treatment. As mentioned by the minister, Malaysians spend RM300 million on cardiac medicines.
\n \nAs Dr Chua also understands, all countries experience the shortage of specialists. In the U.K. and other developed countries, training of specialists or consultants takes at least 5 years after obtaining specialist diploma. \n\n \nIn U.K., a medical student takes five or six years to finish the undergraduate course. Having qualified, he or she spends two years as a houseman. He or she starts to sit for specialist diploma such as Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Once he or she gets the MRCP, he or she applies for a recognized centre to work as a specialist registrar for at least 5 years. If he or she passes every examination the first time and has all the luck in applying for recognized or numbered jobs, he or she requires at least 12 years before applying for a consultant job. This is applicable to all specialties.\n\n \nWe need many more well qualified and ethical specialists including cardiologists. Now, we receive complaints about the quality of specialst care. We hope that the ministry has a truly effective system to assess the training and the quality of specialists. It should also monitor the quality of specialist care in the public and private sectors to ensure that the patients are not shortchanged.\n\n \nDr Tan Seng Giaw\n",0]
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As Dr Chua also understands, all countries experience the shortage of specialists. In the U.K. and other developed countries, training of specialists or consultants takes at least 5 years after obtaining specialist diploma.

In U.K., a medical student takes five or six years to finish the undergraduate course. Having qualified, he or she spends two years as a houseman. He or she starts to sit for specialist diploma such as Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Once he or she gets the MRCP, he or she applies for a recognized centre to work as a specialist registrar for at least 5 years. If he or she passes every examination the first time and has all the luck in applying for recognized or numbered jobs, he or she requires at least 12 years before applying for a consultant job. This is applicable to all specialties.

We need many more well qualified and ethical specialists including cardiologists. Now, we receive complaints about the quality of specialst care. We hope that the ministry has a truly effective system to assess the training and the quality of specialists. It should also monitor the quality of specialist care in the public and private sectors to ensure that the patients are not shortchanged.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw