KUCHING: Family Medicine Specialists (FMS) Malaysia has been pivotal in changing the standards of healthcare in Malaysia.
Dr Sri Wahyu Taher, president of Family Medicine Specialists Association (FMSA) of Malaysia, said this at the opening ceremony of the 22nd Family Medicine Scientific Conference at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), yesterday.
“We do not only provide first point of contact but we also coordinate post-hospital discharge care, making sure continuity and quality are adhered to.
“FMS has gained respect from numerous agencies and fraternities and our numbers are growing,” she said. However, she pointed out that at least 8,000 FMS are still needed to look after the country’s 32 million population.
“I hope there are many budding FMS in this hall and I am sure there are and that is evident by the free paper submission and registered participations from various levels of professionals.”
FMSA Malaysia, since its inception in 2001, has achieved tremendous milestones and according to Wahyu, they are the biggest association representing primary care specialists from the public, private and academia.
“Thus, our responsibility is huge and we are very proud to say that we have come to a level that everyone in Malaysia recognises the importance of primary care and we are the catalyst of change.
“Except for a few doctors who still consider hospital specialist care as the gold standard in patient management, it is clear they are oblivious to the development of global healthcare.
“Let us not make this as a deterrent for further primary care development and transformation,” she said.
