Dr Noor Hisham: 8,000 family medicine specialists needed in Department of Health clinics
Director General of Health, Tan Sri, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that to achieve this goal, the Ministry of Health is currently increasing the capacity of family medicine specialists through Masters in Family Medicine programs in the local universities and a parallel training program in collaboration with foreign colleges. — Photo by Shafwan Zaidon
Thursday, September 22, 2022 5:23 PM MYT
KOTA KINABALU, September 22 – The Ministry of Health (MOH) needs about 8,000 family medicine specialists to place in its clinics to provide the best treatment and services to the community, especially in rural areas.
Director General of Health, Tan Sri, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that to achieve this goal, the Ministry of Health is currently increasing the capacity of family medicine specialists through Masters in Family Medicine programs in the local universities and a parallel training program in collaboration with foreign colleges.
It is estimated that between 100 and 120 family medicine graduates would be trained each year through the parallel pathway program, while around 100 through the master’s program at local universities, he said.
“We started with 42 facilities that had family medicine specialists, but now we have nearly 1,100 family medicine specialists and nearly 700 specialists at the MOH.
“We want at least two specialists in a clinic so that they can lead doctors and be able to improve the quality of services as well as carry out outreach programs in inland areas,” he said during a press conference after the launch of the 24th Family Medicine. Scientific Conference (FMS) at the Sabah International Convention Center (SICC) here today.
Meanwhile, on the Tobacco Products and Smoking Control Bill 2022, Dr Noor Hisham said it aims to stop the new generation from getting into the habit of smoking.
“For the older generation, we don’t disturb what has been done in the past…we focus on the new generation, the one born in 2007,” he said.
The bill, which was tabled for first reading in Dewan Rakyat by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on July 27, aims to prohibit people born on and after January 1, 2007 from buying or possessing cigarettes or vaping products. — Bernama
