M'sian Medical Grads Can Do Housemanship In UK

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysian medical students who complete their basic medical degree in the United Kingdom are allowed to do a three-year housemanship there.
The housemanship would qualify them to obtain the British Medical Council recognition, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Tuesday.
He said this was conveyed to him in writing by British High Commissioner to Malaysia David McCleary in reply to a query on the matter by his ministry.
"If the newly-graduated doctors want to work in the UK for more than three years, only then they need to apply for a work permit," he told reporters after launching the special discounted indemnity insurance scheme for young medical doctors.
The British government announced in April that foreign doctors wishing to work in the country's hospitals need to apply for a work permit, a move seen to provide employment opportunities for doctors from the United Kingdom and European Union member states.
However, the latest move by the British government is said to have affected Malaysian doctors intending to pursue medical studies at Master's level or specialise in that country.
Of the 11,500 Malaysians studying in the UK, 1,000 are medical students.
"Malaysian doctors working in the UK with a valid work permit are allowed to continue serving there until their permit expires," Dr Chua said.
He said doctors who could not complete their Master's degree or specialised medical programmes in the UK would be permitted to continue their studies at local universities.
"They can come back and we'll consider accordingly, to enable them to pursue a Master's programme at the local universities," he added.