SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong Branch chairman Wong Ching Yong has appealed to the Health Minister to replace the present Director-General (DG).
Wong cited numerous complaints from doctors regarding decisions made by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) under the current DG’s leadership, expressing concerns over the quality and appropriateness of these decisions.
“For example, all house officers can now only work in Sarawak General Hospital and not in Sibu General Hospital or regional hospitals in Sarawak,” he said at a press conference in conjunction with the SUPP Dudong Mobile Service2U here today (April 7).
He also urged all medical specialists to learn from Dr Lu Yeow Yuen’s example of taking the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) to court for Judicial Review after rejecting Dr Lu’s application to be registered on the National Specialist Register.
“We encourage all those specialists whose qualifications are not recognised to take the MMC to court for Judicial Review and let the court of law adjudicate the decisions of the MMC,” he stressed.
Wong also said that the Malaysian Medical Act 1971 is outdated, as many doctors have expressed their frustrations and stated that it must be amended so that the MMC president can be democratically elected by its members to protect the professional interests and views of doctors.
“Only then can the elected president of the MMC be independent and brave enough to voice the professional opinions of doctors who are members of the MMC.
“The present DG is a civil servant who has to take instructions from the Minister of Health. Many doctors have also told me that they wonder if the present MMC Council members are asleep during MMC Council meetings,” he said.
Wong said that Sarawak must regain Health and Education autonomy and form the Sarawak Medical Council, which can professionally manage its medical policies.
