Paramedic Bill to uplift medical assistants
PETALING JAYA: The proposed Paramedic Practitioners Bill is expected to have six key elements that would improve regulation of the medical assistant’s profession.
According to the Health Ministry’s Medical Practice Division’s consultation paper for the drafting of the Bill sighted by The Star, the proposed legislation would further empower the Medical Assistant Board (LPP) in terms of enhancing governance and improving regulation of the paramedic profession.
Established under the Medical Assistants (Registration) Act 1977 (Act 180), the LPP is the official regulatory body for Medical Assistants (MA) in Malaysia.
A slew of provisions will be included towards this end, including providing the LPP with more authority to register paramedic practitioners and recognition of specialisation in areas of expertise.
Aside from that, a temporary practice certification will also be issued to foreign paramedics practising in Malaysia.
There will also be provisions to retain the names of practitioners in the board’s register.
“This is a board initiative to support practitioners who will be abroad for extended periods for various reasons, such as pursuing further studies or accompanying their spouse,” read the consultation paper.
In addition to a Certificate of Practice for each registered paramedic practitioner, competency monitoring will be a critical component included to ensure service quality and patient safety.
The fifth core policy involves the addition of disciplinary powers for the board, enabling disciplinary action to be taken against registered paramedic practitioners involved in malpractice.
“Currently, the board cannot take any such action due to the absence of such provisions in Act 180,” read the paper.
“The sixth core policy introduces enforcement powers. These new provisions will protect the public from irresponsible parties, such as fake practitioners and employers who hire unregistered practitioners, which may pose risks to patient health and safety.
“This provision also helps safeguard the professional image from being tarnished by the actions of irresponsible individuals,” it added.
The division said the new legislation is required as Act 180, which has been in effect for four decades, was no longer “comprehensive” and is inadequate to address current issues and challenges concerning the medical assistant profession.
“The profession has evolved in tandem with rapid developments in the healthcare field. This evolution has involved not just a change in the name of the profession but also in training and responsibilities,” said the division.
“When the profession was known as Apothecary, training was limited to pharmacy, basic medical knowledge, prescription issuance and wound management.
“Upon transitioning to the title of MA, both training and responsibilities were upgraded accordingly. MAs can perform tasks autonomously within a defined scope or under the supervision of a medical officer,” it added.
It said MAs’ core duties encompassed pre-hospital care service, conducting diagnostic tests and screenings; handling medical equipment to support treatment and rehabilitation processes; and offering health advice, including managing public health programmes at the community level.
“However, the current provisions in Act 180 are now too basic and insufficient to address the rapid advancements of the MA profession due to progress in medical technology.
“Hence, there is an urgent need to establish a Paramedic Practitioners Bill that is more comprehensive, relevant and aligned with current international standards,” it said.
For MA, the Bill will provide better regulation of the profession through a more comprehensive legislative framework; improve career pathways for paramedic practitioners through recognition of specialisations; and ensure professional development at the international level through rebranding of the profession’s name in line with the World Health Organisation’s health occupation classification.
Patients stand to benefit as their safety would be assured through quality healthcare service. The government will be able to realise the national health reform agenda.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said in March that the Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in the first quarter of next year.
The Star Published on 18th Sept 2025
