KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) will strengthen its collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), as well as relevant regulatory and professional bodies to improve the overall repatriation process for Malaysian medical and healthcare professionals abroad.
TalentCorp said in a statement today that the move is in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s directive for the application process of Malaysians abroad who wish to return home and contribute their expertise in the sector, to be thoroughly examined.
"As part of this effort, TalentCorp also intends to work with MOH through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen coordination and enable a faster and more efficient process for all parties involved.
"TalentCorp remains committed to facilitating the return of Malaysian professionals who wish to contribute their expertise and experience to the country, while ensuring that professional requirements and established regulatory standards continue to be met," according to the statement.
TalentCorp stated that for medical and healthcare professionals applying through the Returning Expert Programme (REP), the application process also involves professional registration requirements to enable them to practice medicine in Malaysia.
It said these requirements include registration with the MMC and the National Specialist Register (NSR), where applicable.
Given that the medical and healthcare sector is subject to regulation by professional bodies, REP applications for this category also go through additional technical evaluations via the Joint Working Committee for Healthcare Talent (JWC-HT), which brings together TalentCorp, MOH, MMC, and relevant health regulatory and professional bodies.
According to the statement, completed REP applications for medical and healthcare professionals are typically processed within approximately 60 working days, subject to the meeting schedule of the relevant committee.
During this period, TalentCorp will review the application and supporting documents to ensure all information is complete and accurate before bringing it to the evaluation and decision stage.
The statement added that since the implementation of the REP in 2011, TalentCorp has received 774 applications from medical and healthcare professionals, with 495 applications approved and 351 applicants having returned to Malaysia.
As of last July, all REP applications received for the category had completed processing.
"However, if the required MMC or NSR registration is still in progress, applications that meet other REP requirements can still proceed for evaluation and be considered for conditional approval.
"Full approval and benefits under the REP will only be granted once the relevant MMC and NSR registrations are completed and proof of registration is submitted," according to the statement.
TalentCorp also shared that it held an engagement session with MOH on June 22 to examine the REP process for medical and healthcare professional officers and to strengthen coordination among related parties.
A joint meeting with JWC-HT members took place today as part of ongoing efforts to further improve the process.
Previously, Minister of Communications and Unity Government Spokesperson Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil was reported as saying that Anwar directed KESUMA to examine applications from doctors serving abroad to return and serve in the homeland.
According to Fahmi, the review also covers application processes under TalentCorp, including the number of approved and rejected applications, following several issues raised by the MMC to the Prime Minister.
-- BERNAMA