KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — The Health Ministry is recommending that doctors place their Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) registration number on all official documents, including medical certificates (MCs).
Deputy director-general Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai said this would ensure more transparency across the board.
“At the moment, only medical practitioners working in the government sector are required to attach or place their MMC registration number on any document. However, those in the private sector are not required to do so,” he said.
“It would be great for all doctors to adopt the practice so that it is easy for the public to verify their credentials.”
Malaysian Medical Association president Dr H. Krishna Kumar said the measure did not breach medical ethics and would protect both the doctor and patient.
“I agree if such regulations are made by and enforced by the Malaysian Medical Council,” he said.
“Such a measure does not breach any professional ethics or confidentiality. If any person is interested in finding a doctor and their qualifications and place of practice, it is freely available on the MMC website.
“Most documents released by the doctors will have the patient's consent and the patient is usually the recipient of the documents.
“Only regulatory data that is required by law is handed to the necessary government offices,” he said.
Dr Kumar said the move could be implemented gradually by the MMC, which would inform all doctors of the requirement especially when renewing their the Annual Practising Certificate.
“It cannot be implemented immediately as doctors need to be made aware of the changes in the regulation. Once this information sifts down to the ground, I am sure all doctors will comply as this would help weed out unregistered doctors and unqualified practitioners,” he said.
They were responding to a recent raid by the Selangor Health Department on Klinik Rakyat in Taman Selayang Jaya following a Malay Mail report on May 17 highlighting dubious practice of selling MCs.
The department's private medical practice control unit director Dr Faizal Mat Arifin, who led the raiding team, said the doctor who operated the clinic had abused his authority in issuing medical certificates.
“We have submitted our findings to the MMC for further action,” he said.
An MMC spokesman confirmed receiving the report and said the council would act accordingly.
“All complaints received by MMC are confidential and are duly processed based on the Medical Regulations 1974 enacted under the Medical Act 1971,” he said.
“Complaints sanctioned by the president of MMC to the preliminary investigation committee will be investigated and forwarded to the council for a final decision.
“The council may in the exercise of its disciplinary jurisdiction, impose any punishment as in the Act under Section 30 of the Medical Act 1971.”
Malay Mail was called in by the state Health Department yesterday to assist with the case.
Those who were involved in the report provided their statements and handed over the purchased certificates to help with the investigation.
The department questioned the doctor and his staff when it raided the clinic on May 18 and seized several documents, including an MC booklet.
The clinic had allegedly sold MCs for between RM20 and RM40.
