PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL CARE, MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS URGED

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Medical practitioners must keep
themselves updated with the latest development in the healthcare industry to
provide up-to-date professional care to patients.

Malaysia Medical Association (MMA) President Dr Khoo Kah Lin said, this
could be achieved through the revised credit point system, Continuing
Professional Development (CPD), to enhance quality in the healthcare industry.

"CPD is a system which ensure that members of professional associations like
MMA maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills to achieve
professionalism," he said.

Dr Khoo was speaking to reporters after officiating the MMA International
CPD Symposium at a hotel here Sunday.

CPD is used to replace the existing grading system for medical
practitioners, Continuing Medical Education (CME).

Dr Khoo said CPD was evaluated through acquisition of credit points
through various categories of activities, including core and non-core
activities.

The participation of all registered medical practitioners in the grading
system is currently voluntary but after the health ministry studies the CPD
points, it will become compulsory to all medical practitioners.

The ministry was also revising the CPD points to integrate them into the
governmental staff annual competency assessment, said Dr Khoo.

Registered medical practitioners will have to acquire minimum credit points
necessary for the award of the CPD Certificate, he added.

"When it become compulsory, all fully registered practitioners, whether
Malaysian or foreign doctors on contract, will have to comply with the CPD
requirements to be able to renew their Annual Practicing Certificates," he said.

-- BERNAMA