AL-JAZEERA
DOCUMENTARY – “MALAYSIA: BABIES FOR SALE”
The Ministry of Health wishes to
refer to the documentary aired by international TV network Al-Jazeera, titled
“Malaysia: Babies for Sale”, on 25 November 2016. The Ministry takes very
serious attention to the numerous issues that have been highlighted in this
documentary.
Among others, this documentary
raised issues related to the professionalism and the ethics of doctors involved
in this unscrupulous practice, and the conduct of practice in the delivery of
healthcare services in the country.
All medical practitioners are
expected at all times to observe proper standards of personal behaviour in
keeping with the dignity of the profession. Breach of the outlined standards of
the professional ethics, i.e. involved in human trafficking activities, may
amount to conduct that is derogatory to the reputation of the medical
profession. On the other hand, all private healthcare facilities and services
in Malaysia are controlled and regulated under the Private Healthcare
Facilities and Services Act 1998 and its subsidiaries.
It is the responsibility of the
healthcare facilities’ certificate / license holders to ensure that all the
practices in the centres are within the legal ambit of any written laws in
Malaysia. On that note, the Ministry has already initiated an investigation
specifically towards the doctors and healthcare facilities highlighted in this
documentary.
Depending on the result of the
investigations, actions will be taken accordingly towards the doctors and
healthcare facilities. This might include disciplinary actions by the Malaysian
Medical Council, which may lead to deregistration (struck off) of the doctor
from the Medical Register under the Medical Act 1971; revoke the
certificate/license of the centres. At the same time, the Ministry is urging
the public to help curb this activity, by being more alert and willing to come
forward with the relevant information, for further action by the relevant
agencies.
Thus, the participation of the
community to be hand-in-hand with the Ministry in safeguarding the patients’
safety and the quality of our healthcare system is highly appreciated to assist
in putting a stop to this dissolute activity.
DATUK SERI DR. S. SUBRAMANIAM
MINISTER OF HEALTH MALAYSIA
26 th November 2016
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