THE Ministry of Health (MOH) has assured that there is no obstacle for 850 Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) medical students to undergo postgraduate training in the country using existing modules, subject to the prescribed entry requirements.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that Malaysia has sufficient capacity to train the graduates and at the same time wants local medical talent to serve its own people.
He said that he assured the 850 affected NUMed students that they will not be stranded even if the United Kingdom (UK) changes its policy.
“MOH is ready to absorb 850 NUMed medical students to undergo postgraduate training (housemanship) in our 48 training hospitals throughout Malaysia. The NUMed degree will remain recognised under the Medical Act 1971.
“The Medical Development Division (BPP) has confirmed that there is no obstacle for these graduates to be trained in Malaysia using existing modules subject to the prescribed entry requirements.
“We have the capacity, and we want your talent to serve our own people,” he told reporters after the Opening Ceremony of the Malaysian Clinical Research Conference (CRM) Trial Connect 2026, today.
He said this in response to the concerns of about 850 Malaysian medical students at NUMed who are facing uncertainty about their future following the implementation of the Medical Training (Priority) Act 2026 by the UK, which changed the entry requirements for the Foundation Programme (FY1/FY2).
The policy change means that NUMed students will no longer enjoy priority to participate in medical training under the National Health Service (NHS) system.
Under the new regulations, priority will only be given to graduates who have physically studied and trained in the UK, thus placing NUMed students who have graduated in Malaysia in the category of international medical graduates (IMGs).
It was reported that UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who tabled the Bill in the Dewan Rakyat in January, described the NHS as not recruiting workers from countries with a shortage of doctors and leaving a pool of local graduates who are ready to serve without jobs.
The law works by creating a priority system for two critical entry routes into medical practice in the UK, namely the UK Foundation Programme (UKFP) and specialist training.
The UKFP is a two-year compulsory training programme that acts as a bridge between medical studies and full registration with the GMC, and without it, a person cannot practice as a fully qualified doctor in the UK.
According to Dzulkefly, the placement and entry process for graduates will be carried out according to existing qualification categories.
“For Malaysian citizens, graduates can continue to apply through SPA9 provided they meet the service scheme criteria, including passing Bahasa Malaysia at the SPM level.
“For non-citizens, including spouses or permanent residents (PR), applications can be made through the Contract Officer Selection Committee (JPPK) under the Ministry of Health before being confirmed by the Public Service Department (JPA) and the Public Service Commission (SPA),” he said.
Dzulkefly said that the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) also stressed that the registration and recognition process of medical graduates in Malaysia is subject to the provisions of the Medical Act 1971 and the regulations in force.
He said that all decisions regarding registration, training and professional qualifications are carried out based on statutory requirements and standards set by the body.
“From a legal perspective, medical qualifications listed in the Second Schedule of the Medical Act 1971 are recognised for registration purposes in Malaysia.
“In line with its role as a regulatory body, MMC remains committed to ensuring that all registered medical practitioners in Malaysia meet the set standards of competence, professionalism and patient safety,” he said.
Dzulkefly added that he understood the frustration of medical students over the policy changes in the UK, but the Ministry of Health’s current priority was to ensure that local medical talent continued to have a path to serve in their own country.
“We understand the frustration of students over the policy changes in the UK. However, my main focus as Minister of Health is to ensure that our medical talent has a place to grow.
“If the UK closes its doors, Malaysia always opens its doors for you to return to serve,” he said. – May 7, 2026
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