Check Out The Process To Apply For Post Graduate Medical Programs In Malaysia....
Jan 23, 2022 09:32:45
Many medical students in India aspire to study Medical Residency (MD or MS) Programs in Malaysia. If you are one of those aspirants, you have reached the right destination! We will discuss Medical Residency (MD or MS) in Malaysia with an exhaustive approach today. We will provide you with information that will cover all the vital aspects!
Completing a five-year MBBS program is just the first step for a well-established and highly lucrative medical career. Although you may hop on to a job and start your medical profession, a sole MBBS degree does not hold that much value in the market nowadays. However, with a medical PG in a particular specialty, you will be valued high as a professional.
The point to consider is medical post-graduation is not a compulsion, but it is a necessity in today's competitive world. To meet the current professional trends & needs and to have a competitive edge over others, you need to become specialized in a specific medical domain.
Before digging into this matter, let us first briefly review what a Medical Residency implies?
Let us begin!
After completing studies at the graduate medical school, the next phase of training undertaken by medical graduates is the Medical Residency or post-graduate training. A Medical Residency signifies a qualified physician practicing Medicine and holding the post-graduate degree of MD (Doctor of Medicine) or MS (Master of Surgery). Such residency training is usually accomplished under direct or indirect guidance of a senior clinician or doctor registered in a specialty (for example, an attending physician or a consultant) in a hospital or a clinic. By pursuing the Medical residency programs, the doctors gain extensive knowledge and practical know-how in a specialized medical field.
The preliminary year of the Medical residency is known as an Internship. It involves clinical rotations to different areas within one specialty or rotating between different specialties. The clinical rotation facilitates the trainees to identify or ascertain the role in which they want to get specialized for the remaining time of their residency and eventually for their successful career.
Primarily, the trainees will have to perform some particular tasks during the medical residency period. The chief routine tasks of a medical resident are enlisted as follows:
a) Carrying out the preliminary diagnosis of the patient's medical conditions and assessments.
b) Inspecting the history of patients and executing physical examinations.
c) Chalking out assessments and schedule of treatment.
d) Conducting clinical rounds for follow-up.
e) Taking down records of admission, the progress of recovery, the notes of procedure, and discharge notes.
f) Advising diagnostic tests, medications for treatment, & check-ups.
g) Dealing with the family/attendants of the patients.
The Post-graduate Medical Residency Programs offer PG medical degrees of MD or MS.
Typically, the Post-graduate Medical Education Programs grant the candidate with an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or MS (Master of Surgery) degree in the specified branches of Basic, Para-clinical, and Clinical subjects, all belonging to modern Medicine. Students can pursue PG after their medical graduation via the two most renowned post-graduate programs, namely Doctor of Medicine or MD program & Master of Surgery or MS program. The minimum duration of these programs (inclusive of the exams) is three years.
A Medical Practitioner in any specialty must be an adept scholar who is professionally wise to scrutinize complex medical problems. Ideally, he must be holding sound leadership qualities, good communication skills, and can capably coordinate work being a team member. He must have skills to mobilize his team as & when needed. Alongside being a health advocate, he should be a responsible person, both in social & ethical aspects. He must perform his duties for the well-being of all patients and the society at large.
Now, summing up the objectives of the Post-graduate Medical Education Program, such program deals out the medical candidate with the following abilities:
I. Indispensable Clinical Excellence
II. Leadership Potential
III. Communicative Ability
IV. Collaborative Skills
V. Imperative Researching Abilities
VI. Teaching Competence
VI. Expert-level Health Advocacy
Now, we will individually discuss the MD and MS degree programs.
One of the most popular post-graduate medical programs is the Doctor of Medicine or MD Program. Remarkably, Doctor of Medicine (MD) is the greatest degree for medical practitioners. The aspirants can pursue this program after pursuing their MBBS degree. The MD course has a program duration of at least three years, as set by the National Medical Commission (NMC) in India. Candidates can choose a suitable specialization from various options available, as per their interests. As per the country norms, either the MD degree can be a research degree (as it is there in Germany & the UK) or a professional doctorate (as per norms of the US & Canada).
Again, one of the most popular post-graduate medical programs pursued by medical graduates to become specialists is the Master of Surgery or MS Program. For admission in the MS course, the minimum academic qualification is the graduate degree of MBBS. Those medical aspirants interested in the field of surgery and want to get the knowledge & surgical training to gain expertise in this domain can feasibly pursue the Master of Surgery program.
After this discussion, you know what are MD and MS degree courses. You can select one from them as per your interests. Now comes the question regarding the destination to pursue a medical residency program. Let us proceed!
After the completion of the MBBS degree, pursuing post-graduate medical courses in India is the topic of perplexity for the Indian MBBS graduates. It is because getting admission to PG medical program for doctors in India is highly challenging. To gain admissions in PG via the highly competitive NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam is intensely difficult for Indian students. There is a small quantum of seat government PG seats each of the specializations for the medical graduates. Only the topmost students can acquire a seat in their preferred specialization. So, if you are highly meritorious and equally fortunate, then only you can gain admission in PG programs in government universities via NEET.
Despite the number of seats in government medical colleges for PG level staying the same, the number of students who qualify for MBBS in India increases every year. Also, there is an increase in the number of students applying for NEET-PG. Many students did not get a seat in the specialization of their choice and they are left with two options. One is to drop the idea of admission into a government college and for the private medical colleges for pursuing the medical PG and the second is to compromise with the vacant seat that is offered to them in accordance with the availability. Other than this, if a student applies for PG admission in a private medical college, he is required to pay high donation fees for a private medical seat. Due to this principle reason, many Indian doctors prefer pursuing their medical post-graduation from foreign medical universities.
Many medical students in India aspire to study Medicine in top-notch destinations of the world. For those aspirants seeking a study abroad destination for their medical post-graduation with reasonable fees, Medical Residency Program in Malaysia can be an ideal choice. Among Indian medical students, Malaysia is becoming a preferred destination for medical studies.
The dedicated efforts of the national government from the past few years to transform Malaysia into a hub of higher education gave good returns. Malaysia is favored for medical study abroad by many international students from the Asia-Pacific region.
The eminent Medical Colleges in Malaysia are accredited by the following organizations/ bodies:
Malaysia's Ministry of Education
Medical Council of India (MCI)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Here, let us explore the country a bit concerning its History & Geographical location and life of Indian students in Malaysia.
Renowned for its beaches & rainforests, Malaysia is an amalgamation of Malay, Indian, Chinese, and European cultural influences. Occupying some parts of the Malay Peninsula and the Borneo island, Malaysia is a Southeast Asian Country. The capital city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, which lies on the western part of the Malay Peninsula. Kuala Lumpur is a lively city. It is popular as the city of lights with lofty buildings, shopping, entertainment, and more. In the world, Malaysia is the 43rd most populous nation. The literacy rate of the country is 94.88% (2016 est.).
The Malay kingdoms that became subject to the British Empire from the 18th century with the British Straits Settlements protectorate originated Malaysia as a country. Peninsular Malaysia was integrated into the Malayan Union in 1946. Then, Malaya was reconstituted as the Federation of Malaya in the late 1980s, and in August 1957, it became independent. Finally, Malaya got united with Sarawak, North Borneo, and Singapore in 1963 as Malaysia. However, In 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation.
In Malaysia, the federal constitutional monarchy embraces thirteen states and three union territories, which are divided into two regions by the South China Sea, namely Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia. The land borders of Peninsular Malaysia are shared with Thailand, and maritime borders with Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Besides, the land & Maritime borders of East Malaysia are common with Brunei and Indonesia and it shares only maritime borders with the Philippines and Vietnam.
Here's a brief discussion on life of Indian students, including the aspect of accommodation, food, and accessibility.
One of the bright destinations for medical students who aspire to gain high-quality higher education at affordable prices in Malaysia. Indian students will experience a comfortable life there. Since there is a strong base of the Indian community, the Indian students will not feel lonely or alienated. Moreover, the Malaysian culture is somewhat comparable to the Indian traditions. Malaysian folks are amicable and respectful to everyone. Besides, the climate in Malaysia is also corresponding to the tropical climate in India.
Concerning the accommodation of Indian students, the campuses of medical universities have a hostel for foreign students. Separated hostels are there for girls and boys. Notably, Indian food is available at the mess. All the essential facilities are provided in the hostels, including 24/7 WiFi and entertainment. Strict security is there in all the hostels. Other than this, students can also opt for private off-campus accommodation on rent.
Coming to food, Malaysia is an enjoyable destination for the food-lovers. The cuisine of Malaysian is a flavorful blend of traditional Malay, Indian, Chinese, Burmese styles. There are small cozy restaurants across the cities, offering delicious and healthy food at highly reasonable rates.
Lastly, regarding the traveling aspect, moving (flying) to and from Kuala Lumpur is relatively reasonable and quicker than traveling to the USA, UK, and many other major destinations. Major Indian cities have connectivity to Kuala Lumpur via regular flights. It takes no more than four and a half hours to reach Malaysia.
Read further to gain all-inclusive insights on Medical Residency in Malaysia.
Students can pursue Masters in Medicine (MD or MS program) in Malaysia with a specific focus on one specialization. The students should not get confused as the MBBS program in Malaysia is known as the MD program, and it is equivalent to the MBBS course in India.
The MD program we are referring to here is the Masters or post-graduation in Medicine.
Before MD or MS one needs to complete graduation, i.e., MBBS. As per the Ministry of Health in Malaysia, after completing the five-year MBBS degree, all candidates should mandatorily complete a two-year clinical internship called the horsemanship program. However, International students who return to their country after their graduation are can undergo this in their home countries. On completing the housemanship, an individual will become a qualified general practitioner.
For gaining further specialization, you can pursue post-graduate studies in Malaysia in specific medical fields like pediatrics, podiatry, gynecology, anesthesiology, etc. These programs can take about four to five years.
To become a specialist, firstly, you will need to work for several years to gain clinical experience. After gaining some experience as a doctor, you can pursue your post-graduate studies. Such programs have a course duration of about four to five years, after which you also need to undertake a supervised training of two to four years as a specialist.
Most importantly, you should make sure that your Medical Degree is acknowledged by the Malaysian Medical Council. Only then you are eligible to get yourself registered with MMC for your medical practice. You will have to take a Medical Licensing Exam if the University where you are pursuing your post-graduation is not acknowledged by the Malaysian Medical Council. The unscheduled examination is open to all graduates from all the unscheduled universities (universities not recognized by the MMC).
To become a doctor in Malaysia you should be having registration with the Malaysian Medical Council.
You should note that Medical Internship in India is not recognizable in Malaysia. So, you will need to undergo horsemanship in Malaysia for two years if you have not been practicing in India for a minimum of three years or if you do not have a post-graduate qualification. For candidates who are duly registered with the Medical Council of India, have good conduct, and either have a post-graduate qualification or have been registered with the Medical Council of India for at least 3 years, they are eligible for Full registration as a medical officer in Malaysia.
The MMC (Malaysian Medical Council) was formed under an Act of Parliament, namely the Medical Act of 1971. It outlines the vital functions of the Council with respect to i) The Registration and practicing of doctors/practitioners
ii) The duration of compulsory service
iii) The provisions to be implemented for purposes of (i) and (ii).
During the initial years of the inception of the Malaysian Medical Council, it used the list of recognized colleges or Universities that appeared in the list of degree programs approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) of the UK (United Kingdom). As the years passed, now, the MMC has taken up the functioning of granting recognition to the other medical schools in Malaysia and abroad. Also, it added the names of such medical schools as recognized medical degrees in the existing register in the second schedule of the Medical Act. The MMC put forward a guideline outlining the standards and procedures on accreditation formed in 1996, especially for the recognition of medical schools. Later in 2000 or 2001, this guideline was restructured with regional and international guidelines. It is suggested that the MMC forms an actively operating Education Committee. Also, the role of MMC in medical education should be directly & precisely stated in the Act. The MMC is responsible for the medical education in its entire phase, including UG, PG, Certifications, everything.
The Specialty and Subspecialty Education Committees look after setting up general standards for training programs and their providers. Also, these Committees offer technical guidance for training providers concerning the submission of their training program curriculum and other requirements, respectively.
The Malaysian Medical Council has formed two evaluation committees:
Evaluation committee for Primary Medical Qualification
Evaluation committee for Specialist Medical Qualification, assisted by the Specialty sub-committee.
Note: The Malaysian Medical Council has notified that the applicants who have never worked in Malaysia will need to complete an assessment period of up to one year in a facility approved by the Evaluation Committee for Specialist Medical Qualifications before considering him for registration.
The Specializations available for Indian Students for pursuing medical Post-graduation in Malaysia are listed below:
Anesthesia
Internal Medicine
Pathology
Pediatrics
Radiology
Oncology
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Anatomical Pathology
Forensic Pathology
Chemical Pathology
Transfusion Medicine
Medical Microbiology
General Surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Pediatric Surgery
Orthopedic
Hematology
Psychiatry
Urology
Neurosurgery
Plastic Surgery
Ophthalmology
Otorhinolaryngology
Nuclear Medicine
Family Medicine
Public Health
Sports Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
The Medical Residency program in Malaysia will offer you a multicultural environment and enticing locations to live and work along with high-grade medical infrastructure & research facilities. Here are some best medical schools or universities in Malaysia that you can consider for your post-graduation abroad.
National Defence University of Malaysia
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Medical Faculty
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Faculty of Medicine
University of Malaya (UM)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences
Monash University
Asia Metropolitan University College
MAHSA University
Lincoln University College
Taylor's University
Penang Medical College
Perdana University
Widad University
Newcastle University of Medicine
Quest International University Perak
After all this, here comes the time to explore the vital aspect of Medical Residency in Malaysia, i.e., Registration for Medical Practitioners.
For lawfully practicing Medicine in Malaysia, the medical practitioners should mandatorily get themselves registered with the Malaysian Medical Council. In this way, the Medical Council ensures that a particular medical practitioner has the required level of knowledge, skills, and proficiency to ensure the provision of safe and effective treatment to the citizens.
Full Registration as per Section 14(3)
Temporary Practicing Certificate - Registration as per Section 16(1)
For those registered with the foreign regulatory body
For the training, research, and training-cum-employment
For the evaluation and registration of medical practitioners, the Malaysian Medical Council has constituted an Evaluation Committee under section 4E of the Medical (Amendment) Act 2012 and section 3 of the First Schedule of the Medical Act 1973. It is done with due regards to the Council’s power under section 4A of the Medical (Amendment) Act 2012 to accept or reject any application for registration or certification as per this Act or Regulations.
The application for non-Malaysians is required to be submitted through the prospective employer, in case of the candidate is willing to do medical practice in Malaysia itself.
There is a monthly meeting of the Council's Evaluation Committee. The application must be sent within one month from the completion of the housemanship of the practitioner.
The applicant must ensure that all the required documents are duly enclosed along with the application form.
The Essential Documents for application concerning Full Registration For Medical Practitioners undertaking the Housemanship In Malaysia:
Form 6 of the Medical Act 1971, completed by the hospital.
Form 9 of the Medical Act 1971 was completed by the applicant or medical officer.
Appendix A form to be completed by the applicant or medical officer.
Form A need should be filled by the respective supervisors/seniors of various disciplines working where the housemanship was conducted (including extension letters, if there).
Original Certified copy of the Bonafide basic medical (MBBS) degree.
The Council will issue an acknowledgment or a query letter within one week of receiving the application, as per the state of the documents submitted.
A medical practitioner is required to register with the Malaysian Medical Council to practice Medicine legally in Malaysia according to the Medical Act 1971. Therefore, the application for registration should be submitted before your medical practice.
As per Sections 12 and 13 of the Medical Act 1971, a Provisional Registration enables a newly qualified professional to complete the general medical training required for the Full Registration under Section 14 of the Medical Act.
i) You are permitted for Provisional Registration if -
a) You are holding a degree approved by the MMC as listed in the Second Schedule or pass the EPR (Examination for Provisional Registration), and
(b) You are employed by the public authorities for housemanship training.
ii) As a provisionally registered practitioner, you will be allowed to practice as a house officer in hospitals or healthcare institutions recognized by the Medical Qualifying Committee (as per section 13 of the Act).
iii) You can apply for Provisional Registration via Medical Register Information and Technical System (MeRITS) at the official website . You will have to pay RM100 for this via the system.
iv) Foreign medical graduates should submit a validated medical degree and transcript through Primary Source Verification via Dataflow or ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates).
v) All documents should be verified, as per the MMC Guideline for Document Verification.
vi) If in any of the submitted documents your printed name differs, then you have to submit a Statutory Declaration stating that the name on the ID card is the same individual.
vii) You have to submit translated versions (original) of your original documents in Bahasa Malaysia or English along with the verified copies of the documents in their original language, in case your original documents are not in Bahasa Malaysia or English
Please note the translated documents are only admissible if qualified translators such as Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM) or Officers of the relevant Embassy have performed your translation.
viii) According to Section 19 of the Act, you have to submit your recent original medical report, whose date should not exceed three months from the date of submission to MMC, which must be written by a Specialist/Consultant along with your medical certificate if:
a) You suffer from any medical illness or disability which may impact your professional work & duties, and(/or)
b) You have any mental illness and(/or) have been admitted into a hospital for any mental condition.
ix) Those applicants with complete documentation only will be granted/ issued a Qualifiable for a Registration letter.
x) The applicants with any medical problem need to be referred to the Fitness to Practice Committee. To them, Provisional Registration Certificate will be issued only after a decision by the committee.
xi) Once the application has been approved and becomes valid for use, the applicant can self-print his Provisional Registration Certificate from MeRITS.
xii) Please note that after you have submitted a verified copy of your basic medical degree or final academic transcript, and have the employment offer letter by the MoH (Ministry of Health Malaysia), then only the Provisional Registration Certificate will be issued.
1) Two passport size photos
2) Form 4 of the Medical Act 1971 for Provisional Registration application form.
3) A completed Appendix A Form
4) A verified original copy of Basic Medical Degree or original copy of Dean's letter
5) A verified original copy of your transcript that is inclusive of the results of the whole training period (Exemption for Local public university graduates).
6) A verified original copy of the birth certificate.
7) A verified original copy of an Identity Card or passport.
8) A verified original copy of SPM/MCE or offer letter from SPA, whichever is applicable.
9)A processing fee of RM20 payable to The Registrar Medical Practitioner by money/postal order.
10) Apart from the documents above, the graduates from Indian institutions also have to submit a verified copy of the Bonafide Student and Rotating Internship.
1) The EPR (Examination for Provisional Registration) is for medical graduates from the universities that are not listed in the Second Schedule of the Medical Act 1971, as per Sections 12 (1)(aa) of the Medical Act, 1971. The Medical Regulations 2015 (Settings of Examination for Provisional Registration) entails the provision for EPR.
2) The fee payable for EPR is as described-
Processing fee: RM1000
Theory Examination fee: RM3000
Clinical Examination: RM3000
3) You can apply for Provisional Registration via Medical Register Information and Technical System (MeRITS) at the official website -
4) Foreign medical graduates should submit a validated medical degree and transcript through Primary Source Verification via Dataflow or ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates).
5) The complete documents should be verified, as per the MMC Guideline for Document Verification.
6) If in any of the submitted documents your printed name differs, then you have to submit a Statutory Declaration stating that the name on your ID card (on the passport for Indian Students) is the same individual.
7) You have to submit translated versions (original) of your original documents in English or Bahasa Malaysia along with the authenticated copies of the documents in their original language, in case your original documents are not in Bahasa Malaysia or English
Please note the translated documents are only admissible if qualified translators such as Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM) or Officers of the relevant Embassy have performed your translation.
8) The exam (EPR) will be conducted twice a year, specifically in March and September for the respective calendar year and closing dates for its application will be one month before the date of examination. The notification for the dates is announced on MMC's official website.
9) It is compulsory to pass the Theory Examination before appearing for the Clinical Examination.
10) The registration will be issued only after clearing the EPR.
Guidelines for Temporary Practicing Certificate by Malaysian Medical Council
As per the Medical Act 1971, practitioners should submit their application before commencing to practice Medicine in Malaysia.
1) According to section 16 of the Medical Act, a TPC (Temporary Practising Certificate) is issued to permit a foreign-registered medical practitioner to practice in Malaysia for the period of up to three months with intention of teaching, conducting research, pursuing post-graduate courses, clinical attachment, or fellowship training.
2) You should submit such an application six weeks from the commencement of the intended practice.
3) The application must be submitted by an MMC registered practitioner and not the foreign practitioner seeking registration for himself. Such MMC registered practitioner should be a registered local practitioner supervising the foreign practitioner.
4) To be eligible for the Temporary Practising Certificate -
a) The foreign practitioner should be fully registered with a foreign Medical Council or Professional Licensing Authority in the immediate last country of practice.
b) The concerned local registered practitioner who will be supervising the applicant or foreign practitioner should be:
5) For each place where the foreign practitioner will be practicing, a separate application form should be submitted by supervising local practitioner(s).
6) The complete documents should be verified, as per the MMC Guideline for Document Verification.
7) If in any of the submitted documents your printed name differs, then you have to submit a Statutory Declaration stating that the name on your ID card (on the passport for Indian Students) is the same individual.
8) You have to submit translated versions (original) of your original documents in English or Bahasa Malaysia or English along with the authenticated copies of the documents in their original language, in case your original documents are not in English or Bahasa Malaysia.
Please note the translated documents are only admissible if qualified translators such as Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM) or Officers of the relevant Embassy have performed your translation.
9) You have to submit this application to:
The Registrar of Medical Practitioners, Malaysian Medical Council,
Block B, Ground Floor, Jalan Cenderasari, 50590 Kuala Lumpur.
10) Once the approval is granted for the applications, the employer should inform in writing the Malaysian Medical Council within one month from the date the practitioner reported for work.
11) The practitioner will directly receive the Full Registration Certificate by post. If the practitioner wants to collect it personally, he should mention this in the application form. Please note: If the Full registration Certificate is collected by a third party, kindly provide an authorization letter.
12) You are strictly advised to indicate the date on which the TPC will take effect before submission, as a TPC is valid only up to three months from the date printed on it.
13) The renewal application should be submitted at least a month before the expiry date of the previous TPC.
The Medical Act of 1971 including the 2012 Amendment and the Medical Regulations 2017 were implemented on 1st July 2017. As per the amendment, to practice as a specialist, all doctors must be Fully registered under this Act. In June 2019, MMC approved the first edition of the Malaysian Standards for Medical Specialist Training 2019, and it is available on the MMC website. All pre-existing and new medical specialties will have to fulfill these standards. The Existing Medical Specialty is the specialty already acknowledged and listed in the National Specialist Register (NSR) already. The National Specialist Register is established by the MMC to maintain the specialist medical practitioners' database in the country.
Please note: Only the medical practitioners having their name on the Specialist Register are eligible to practice in the registered specialty.
Section 14A: A Registered Medical Practitioner Practicing As Specialist
(1) An individual whose name has not been entered into the register cannot practice as a specialist in that specialty.
(2) Any individual who violates subsection (1) shall be exposed to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Council.
Section 14B: Individual entitled to registration as a Specialist
An individual is eligible to be registered as a specialist under this Act if:
(i) he has been fully registered under section 14,
(ii) he has pursued specialized training in that specialty in an approved training institution,
(iii) he is qualified as a recognized specialist, and
(iv) he has duly proven to the MMC that he is fit and a person with good character.
(1) You can apply for registration under subsection 18(1), and MMC may require the applicant to present relevant information or documents in support of the application.
(2) If the MMC decides for the approval of the application, the MMC directs the Registrar to include the applicant’s name in the register.
(3) Notably, the MMC may also refuse to register any such person accordingly. If the MMC denies the registration of the applicant under subsection (3), it shall immediately issue a notice of refusal to the applicant, along with reasons for such refusal.
I. The Medical practitioners looking for registration with the NSR shall apply in the prescribed format, along with relevant certified documents to the NSR Secretariat. Also, the registration fee is payable to the MMC (as per the Fee schedule in Appendix A).
II. The applicant is responsible to approach the relevant professional licensing authority for submitting the certificates and letter of good standing to the NSR Secretariat.
III. The applicant may request to be registered in an MMC-recognized specialty.
IV. The NSR Secretariat shall authentic all the documents furnished by the applicants with the respective sources, e.g., medical regulatory authority, universities, etc., and make all the necessary inquiries with the concerning references.
V. All the applications, which are complete, i.e., duly processed by the NSR Secretariat shall be forwarded to the concerned SSCs.
VI. The SSCs shall assess the applications against the criteria specified for the registration in the specialty applied for. Then it will submit its recommendation to the ECSMQ.
VII. The ECSMQ will scrutinize the recommendations of the SSCs and then make their recommendations to the MMC for approval.
VIII. Finally, the names of MMC-approved medical practitioners shall be entered in the Specialist Register (NSR).
IX. If an application is rejected by the MMC, the applicant shall be informed of the reasons for rejection. However, after six months of the date of refusal, the applicant may re-apply to be registered with the NSR with duly certified documents and the registration fees to the NSR Secretariat.
Please Note: All decisions of the Malaysian Medical Council are subject to judicial procedure.
1) An applicant may apply for registration in any of the MMC recognized Specialty or Subspecialty.
2) The Applicant shall be fully registered under section 14 of the Medical Act. However, the SSC may assess the applications under the circumstances stated below:
a. Application whose Full Registration is processed by MMC on the pre-condition that the basic qualification is registrable.
b. Non-Malaysian Applicants having Temporary Practicing Certificate (TPC)
c. The Applicant shall have post-graduate qualifications that are acknowledged by the MMC. (Applicants can check the list of Recognized Post-graduate Qualifications on the NSR official page)
4) The applicant must fulfill the evaluation criteria of the ECSMQ that he is fit and bears a good character.
5) The applicant shall submit all the documentary proofs of his specialist training in the country of qualification and his registration with the medical regulatory authority of the respective country where he pursued his specialty training.
6) The duration of training in a basic specialty shall be at least four years.
7) For registration in the main specialty, the applicant needs to undergo or should have undergone supervised post qualification work experiences of at least one year or above.
8) An applicant holding recognized specialty qualification and having further training in the related subspecialty may apply for registration in the specialty and subspecialty concurrently. To be eligible for registration in a recognized subspecialty (field of practice), an individual shall:
a. Have an acknowledged post-graduate qualification and training in the relevant basic specialty,
b. Has creditably completed the three-year Fellowship program of the Ministry of Health in the subspecialty, OR
Has gone through training in a recognized field of practice that fulfills the standards set by the Malaysian Medical Council. The training program shall be standardized against the local Fellowship program or justifiable International Standards.
The essential documents for the applications of Registration are listed below:
1) Verified Original copies of basic and specialist medical qualifications.
2) Verified Original copy of Full Registration from medical regulatory authority concerning the country where the applicant last practiced.
3) Letter of good character from medical regulatory authority concerning the country where the applicant last practiced.
4) Declaration of Fitness to practice.
5) Latest CV (Curriculum vitae), including the following:
i. Work Summary in hospitals/institutions worked in,
ii. Evidence of training received in the specialty and competencies
iii. Briefing of professional work experience in the specialty (clinical, research, etc.)
6) Reports from two references who are professionally associated with the applicant. The referees shall not be the applicant’s relatives or subordinates, except in unavoidable situations. The References should be NSR Registered with them except those from abroad. They must have qualified specialists working in the specialty for five years minimum.
7) Verified original copy of passport, as applicable.
Bringing up the rear, Malaysia is a very favorable and pocket-friendly alternative for Indian students seeking Medical residency opportunities abroad. Though the criteria and rules for medical Post-graduation in Malaysia are strict and a bit different from India, the country offers reputed study programs with top-notch infrastructure that will lead you towards a bright career. Malaysia, along with being in the leading 30 most peaceful nations throughout the world, also offers a high-class curriculum for medical aspirants. Malaysian Medical Degrees are acceptable for practicing Medicine anywhere in the world.
We Wish the Best of luck to all the aspirants!
