THE UK General Medical Council (GMC) has denied a news report claiming it does not recognise the FRCS Edinburgh cardiothoracic surgery parallel pathway qualification for specialist registration.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said he was assured by the UK High Commission that there had been been no policy shift in the GMC.

In an X post, Dr Dzulkefly attached a response from the UK High Commission denying the report, saying Malaysian doctors need to fulfil only a requirement, which is through the portfolio pathway.

“Dear YB Minister, despite the sensationalised article, I want to assure you that there have not been any policy shifts within the UK GMC in the FRCS Ed.”

“The qualification is recognised and should Malaysian doctors wish to work in the UK, they need to fulfil only the existing requirement, through the portfolio pathway, like the Certificates of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR),” Dr Dzulkefly said.

Previously, Codeblue reported that GMC does not recognise the cardiothoracic surgery qualification from Malaysia’s parallel pathway programme.

“The FRCS Edinburgh in Cardiothoracic Surgery does not lead to the award of a CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) and therefore does not entitle an individual to specialist registration,” a UK GMC spokesman based in London told CodeBlue in an email interview.

“The qualification is recognised as an acceptable postgraduate qualification for the purpose of applying for full registration and a licence to practise with the GMC provided it was following examination, but not specialist registration.

“It’s also important to highlight that the qualification approved by the GMC for the purpose of specialty training in the UK – that leads to the award of a CCT and subsequent recognition onto the specialist register – is the Intercollegiate Specialty Fellowship Examination, not the FRCS.” – May 17, 2024.