KUALA KUBU BARU: There has been no discussion to open the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme to non-bumiputera students.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said there was a need to address underlying issues before considering the proposal to admit non-bumiputera students.

"We haven't engaged in any discussions yet, nor have we received official communication on this matter.

"It is crucial to resolve the fundamental issues before delving into such proposals," he told reporters at the Suara Anak Madani programme held here yesterday.

Zambry reaffirmed the government's commitment to finding the best solution, emphasising that the Health Ministry would take the lead in resolving the issue.

Previously, the health website Codeblue reported that UiTM was considering opening its cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate training programme to non-bumiputera trainees.

UiTM Medical Faculty professor Dr Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar proposed this as a solution to the issue of unrecognised parallel pathways for training in cardiothoracic surgery.

Amin had said the UiTM-National Heart Institute cardiothoracic surgery parallel pathway training programme was the only one of its kind offered locally.

On April 2, the Health Ministry announced that parallel pathway programme (PPP) graduates would be recognised.

The ministry plans to propose to the cabinet to expedite the proposed amendment to the Medical Act 1971 to ensure that medical specialists who have completed their training under PPP are registered and recognised.

On April 19, the Higher Education Ministry and the Health Ministry agreed to jointly address the issue of a PPP for medical specialists.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1045280/zambry-no-discussion-about-uitm-opening-postgrad-programme-non-bumis