Materia Medica Malaysiana

1,000 illegal practitioners in the country

IT IS estimated that there are over 1,000 unregistered Chinese physicians in the country, Nanyang Siang Pau reported.

According to the Federation of Chinese Physicians and Medicine Dealers Association of Malaysia secretary Thong Choong Khat, this figure was derived based on a study conducted three years ago.

He told the paper he believed that the number would have been reduced now that the Government was looking into the issue.

He said the federation could only make recommendations but it was the Health Department that grant permits to foreign Chinese physicians to practise here.

He said the Immigration Department would issue a working permit to a foreign physician once it has obtained a clearance letter from the Health Department, he said.

“Foreign physicians without professional training and certification will not be able to practise in the country,” said Thong.

He said those physicians whom the federation recommended would display their permits in their clinics.

Thong advised the public to look for such permits to avoid going to unregistered practitioners.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said physicians who work without a permit in the country would be blacklisted and barred from entering Malaysia again.

He urged the public to alert the authorities if they know of any unregistered physician.

The paper also reported that Dong Jiao Zhong (United Chinese School Committees Association) would organise a monthly forum for Chinese educators to discuss education issues.

Dong Zhong chairman Quek Suan Hiang said the first forum would be held on Friday at the association's premises in Kajang.

According to a report in Sin Chew Daily, Dong Zhong and other Chinese associations were hoping to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss issues concerning the Chinese community before submitting a memorandum on Chinese education to him.

The daily said Dong Zhong and other Chinese associations had reached a consensus on the general content of the memorandum on Chinese education but had not agreed on the way it is to be presented or the timing.