University Malaya expected to offer Cardiothoracic specialist training, says Zambry

KUALA LUMPUR: Cardiothoracic specialist training is expected to be offered at Universiti Malaya by October, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

The minister said the course offered through the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) would be able to resolve issues pertaining to the shortage of specialists in the field.

“A discussion was held with Universiti Malaya through UMMC, and it planned to offer the course at the university. We’re hopeful that the issue can be resolved by October this year.

“The course offered in UM will allow those interested to pursue the specialisation and it will also be followed by other universities,” he said in response to a supplementary question by Ramkarpal Singh (Pakatan Harapan- Bukit Gelugor).

Ramkarpal in his original question had asked the ministry to explain whether it would allow non-Bumiputera students to enrol at UiTM by amending the UiTM Act 1976.

The former deputy minister said that the question was put forward by him following recent reports on the acute shortage of cardiothoracic specialists and only UiTM is offering the post-graduate course.

In response, Zambry said that UiTM will maintain its Bumiputra policies, citing a study by the Bumiputra Economic Congress which showed that there were still economic gaps between the group with other races.

“Moreover, the rate of absolute poverty within the Bumiputra group still requires ongoing efforts,” he said.

It was reported that UiTM is the only university that offers a parallel pathway programme in collaboration with the National Heart Institute in the cardiothoracic field, which comprises surgery and care for heart and lung diseases.

On April 25, health news site Codeblue quoted a board member of the UiTM-IJN (National Heart Institute) cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar who said the varsity is agreeable to opening the course to non-bumiputera.

Previously, the Malaysian Medical Association said UiTM should allow the entry of non-bumiputera Malaysians seeking specialised training in the cardiothoracic field since international students can enrol in the university.

However, Zambry in May said there had been no discussion on allowing the entry of non-bumiputra.