THE Dewan Rakyat has passed the Medical (Amendment) Bill, which aims to strengthen the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and improve the regulation of the medical profession.

It will also empower MMC to better manage the 35,000 medical practitioners in the country, including establishing a specialist registry.

Earlier, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai explained that there was no attempt to erode the powers of the Academy of Medicine, which registers the credentials of specialist doctors.

He said the two would complement each other in establishing the specialist registry for the benefit of patients.

Liow also said the appointment of Oratis Sdn Bhd was meant to improve the Government’s delivery of medicine and medical aid to pensioners.

He noted that Oratis had introduced an automated system to assist in providing medication or medical equipment to pensioners via selected pharmacies.

He said the company’s appointment on Feb 15 was in response to the numerous complaints from pensioners over delays in claims submitted for their medication bought from pharmacies.

“Pensioners can get their prescriptions from pharmacies without paying as the claims will be handled by the company,” he told Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah).

-The Star-