MMC: Scheme introduced too hastily

Star: PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) is the latest medical body to voice concern about the legitimacy of the eKesihatan scheme, saying that it had been introduced too hastily and raised various ethical issues.
Its president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said yesterday that proper consultation with the Health Ministry and other medically relevant professional bodies should have been done.
This was because the new scheme seemed to place restrictions on the duties and responsibilities of a medical practitioner by dictating who a vehicle driver could consult and whose findings would not be accepted by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
In a strongly worded statement, he said the MMC had the exclusive right to register medical practitioners in the country under the Medical Act.
Once registered and possessing the annual practising certificate, the practitioner had the “sole prerogative” to examine, diagnose, investigate and treat within the parameters of his training and legal framework.
Any certificate, notification, report or document signed by the practitioner was evidence that he actually examined the person, he said.
“As the custodian of medical practice in this country, the council is very concerned with any move to place any restrictions or conditions on the practice of any registered practitioner,” he said.