Newly Elected CMA Head Wants To Enhance Knowledge Sharing In Healthcare Between Member Countries

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Enhancing Knowledge Sharing In Healthcare Among Medical Professionals And Improving Medical Student Exchange Programmes Between Commonwealth Member Countries Will Be Among The Priorities Of The Newly Elected President Of Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA), Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai. Dr Muruga Raj, who is also the president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), said knowledge sharing in healthcare among medical professionals around the globe is an encouraged practice in the profession that has significantly contributed to many medical breakthroughs and improvements to the standards of healthcare delivery globally. "Knowledge sharing will be an area I will be giving emphasis to during my term through meetings, conferences besides the development of a CMA digital app to encourage networking among our Commonwealth colleagues. "I will also be working towards improving and enhancing medical student exchange programmes between the Commonwealth countries in line with these efforts" he said in his acceptance speech during the installation ceremony on his election as president of CMA for a two-year term at a hotel here, Saturday. It has been 21 years since a Malaysian doctor was elected as President of CMA. Malaysian Dr P. Krishnan served as president of CMA from 2001-2004. Commenting further, Dr Muruga Raj said he will also address issues like access to healthcare, the global increase in cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, ageing populations and climate change, among others. “CMA has a wide network of 54 medical associations from the 54 commonwealth nations. I am looking forward to meeting regularly with heads of the national medical associations on addressing these global health issues and for knowledge sharing," he added. The CMA, a non-governmental organisation, was established in 1952 to assist and strengthen the capacities of national medical associations (NMAs) of countries within the Commonwealth to improve the health, well-being and human rights of their respective countries and communities. Outgoing CMA president and current World Medical Association (WMA) President Dr Osahon Enabulele from Nigeria handed over CMA’s top leadership role to Dr Muruga Raj at the installation ceremony held as part of CMA’s 26th Triennial Conference and Council Meeting’s programme (Nov 4-6) in Kuala Lumpur. Besides Dr Muruga Raj, two other MMA Exco members were elected to the leadership positions of CMA. MMA's Honourary General Secretary Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo was elected CMA’s Regional Vice President for South East Asian countries while MMA's Immediate Past President Dr Koh Kar Chai was elected CMA Treasurer. -- BERNAMA