MMA elects Dr Azizan as the new president

PETALING JAYA: Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz is the new president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), taking over from Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai.

Dr Azizan graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1986 and was the MMA deputy secretary and treasurer from 2013 to 2014 before taking a break from practice to care for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

In her inaugural speech held at the MMA’s annual banquet in Kota Kinabalu on Friday (Sept 8), she said that looking into the well-being of public healthcare doctors would be a priority during her term as president.

“Well-being of doctors and, by extension, all healthcare workers in the public healthcare system should be treated as a priority to ensure the highest quality of care in the country is maintained,” MMA quoted her as saying in a statement on Saturday (Sept 9).

Dr Azizan said public healthcare was unlike other civil service departments as healthcare workers often worked extra hours putting the patient’s needs first.

MMA said the contract doctor issue, overcrowding at healthcare facilities, maldistribution of healthcare workers, shortages in specialists, remuneration and junior doctors’ career pathway were among the public healthcare issues the MMA president will be working to address.

Dr Azizan said she was looking forward to engaging with the Health Ministry to resolve these issues as they are important areas to address in improving the delivery of care and the system.

“We hope to get an update from the Health Ministry soon on the implementation of healthcare reforms that are being planned in line with the Health White Paper,” she added.