KOTA BARU: The proposed Paramedic Practitioners Bill is currently under review by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), says Health Ministry deputy secretary-general (Finance) Datuk Seri Zahrul Hakim Abdullah (pic).
He said that once the review at the AGC level is completed, the proposed Bill will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration and approval before being tabled in Parliament.
“At the ministry level, the Medical Practice Division has held an engagement session to review and strengthen the Medical Assistants (Registration) Act 1977, which is over 40 years old, by including new clauses that are more relevant to the medical assistant profession.
“The engagement session with all relevant parties has concluded, and I expect the proposed bill to be tabled in Parliament in the first or second quarter of next year,” he told reporters after opening the delegates’ conference and exco meeting of the National Union of Medical Assistants for Peninsular Malaysia here on Thursday (Sept 18).
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Zahrul expressed hope that the proposed Bill would bring improvements to the profession of assistant medical officers, acknowledging their role as dedicated frontline workers.
Commenting on preparations for the monsoon season, he said the ministry had instructed all hospitals and health clinics to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the flood season.
“In terms of logistics and medical supplies, we will ensure they are sufficient to prevent any disruption to the delivery system, particularly in areas affected by floods.
“We will also continue to cooperate with the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and other relevant agencies, because during floods, some roads may become impassable and we will need their assistance,” he said. – Bernama
