Primary Care (also known as Family Medicine in Malaysia), is the first point of contact that a patient has with healthcare provision. Primary care doctors are also known as family doctors, general practitioners, or family physicians. Those with recognised postgraduate qualifications in Family Medicine as listed in the National Specialist Register (NSR), are known as Family Medicine Specialists (FMS).
Primary Care practice is guided by the principles of the discipline. This comprises of care that is primary contact, personalised, patient centred, preventive, comprehensive, continuous, coordinated and community based. Primary Care is the foundation of the healthcare system and more than in most specialties, there is an urgent need to increase the number of trained postgraduate doctors to meet the shortfall in Malaysia.
The Master Programme is a four-year (to seven years maximum) programme in which trainees are registered to one of the six universities in the Conjoint Board of Family Medicine namely, University of Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa. It is divided into hospital rotations and clinic postings. The rotations cover 22 clinical blocks, followed by clinic postings where the trainee is trained in the skills relevant to primary care. This is followed by a period of shadowing a Family Medicine Specialist in order to learn practice management and leadership skills.
| PEO 1. Demonstrate effective, person-centred and value-based care by applying evidence informed medical knowledge and clinical skills to problem solve, manage and coordinate care. |
| PEO 2. Demonstrate ethical conduct, professionalism, and commitment towards personal development and lifelong learning. |
| PEO 3. Be leaders in the field and contribute to education, research and the promotion and improvement of health in the local, national and international settings. |
| PLO 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic approach to solve complex and current healthcare issues using medical knowledge, concepts and principles to provide safe, effective and evidence-based patient care. Corresponds to MQF Cluster 1: Knowledge and Understanding. |
| PLO 2. Contribute substantially to the area of specialisation through the creation of new knowledge/ theories/ solutions/ practice through originality and independent research, which satisfies peer reviews and international standards. Correspond to MQF Cluster 2: Cognitive Skills. |
| PLO 3. Demonstrate competency in practical and technical skills in relevant areas of specialisation and continually develop new skills and techniques to resolve emerging problems in Primary Care Medicine. Corresponds to MQF Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Practical Skills. |
| PLO 4. Communicate effectively, ethically and professionally with all stakeholders including patients, peers, members of the care team and the community at large in Primary Care Medicine. Corresponds to Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Interpersonal and Communication Skills. |
| PLO 5. Apply existing technological tools effectively to enhance patient care and undertake research to improve practice. Corresponds to Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Digital and Numeracy Skills. |
| PLO 6. Demonstrate leadership, autonomy and advocacy in contributing to decision making practices for patient management, training, research and health systems improvement in Primary Care Medicine. Corresponds to Cluster 3: Functional Work Skills – Leadership, Autonomy and Responsibility Skills. |
| PLO 7. Continually integrate new knowledge in the area of specialisation for personal advancement and lifelong learning through ongoing academic and/or professional development. Corresponds to Cluster 4: Personal and Entrepreneurial Skills. |
| PLO 8. Demonstrate commitment to professional values, attitudes and ethical conduct in patient management and research in Primary Care Medicine. Corresponds to Cluster 5: Ethics and Professionalism. |
There are two main pathways for Postgraduate training in Primary Care Medicine, i.e. The Universities’ Masters Programme and The Academy of Family Medicine Programme.
The career opportunities for the Family Medicine Specialist include to work and lead in a primary care clinic or choose an academic career.
There are three phases in the four-year programme. The phases are as below:
Assessment includes clinical activities relating to the care of individual patients, behavioural and communication aspects, and non-clinical activities relating to administrative and organisational tasks, and academic skills. Trainees will be assessed regularly throughout the duration of the programme using both formative and summative tools.
The assessment focus in Primary Care has three key stages:
A non-Malaysian applicant whose degree is from a university or institution of higher learning where the medium of instruction for that degree is not the English language and where the applicant wishes to follow a programme shall be required:
Entry qualifications
Other requirements
December 2022 (Session 2022/2023)
Last Update: 19/06/2023