Aims, Objectives and Missions

Aims And Objectives

To promote and maintain the honour and interest of the profession of medicine in all its branches and every segment and help continue and maintain the professional standards of medical ethics.
To serve as the vehicle of the integrated voice of the medical profession and every segment in relevance and relation to special predicaments and educating and directing public opinion on problems of public health affecting the community at large.
To participate in the conduct of medical education, as may be appropriate.
To participate in or invest a portion of the Association’s funds as stipulated in the constitution and not conflict with the Code of Medical Ethics. Enjoy the benefits and be aware of what’s happening to your profession.

Powers

In the pursuit and furtherance of the Objects, the Association shall have the following powers:

To arrange periodical meetings of the members or any segment thereof.
To prepare and publish scientific papers, journals and other publications, with the prior approval of the authority concerned.
To acquire property by purchase, build or lease or otherwise occupy premises, to deal with such property; to invest such liquid assets as it may have and in a proper case borrow as may be necessary.
To create a special account or accounts, payments from which shall be at the absolute discretion of the Council, to assist members of the Association or their dependents, provided that no mutual benefit activities as defined under Section 2 of the Societies Act 1966 may be carried out by the Association.
To collect or otherwise acquire sums of money for educational, scientific and charitable purposes and to establish, manage and maintain a Foundation Fund for such purposes.

Mission Statement Believing

That physician has a unique responsibility for the health of society, derived from their ancient duty to protect life and preserve health.
That Medicine cannot be insular, self-seeking, self- protective / defensive but must be an integral part of a caring society.
Those social and economic factors are important determinants of health, and that current global trends point to impending environmental degradation which will threaten human health and survival.
That the advancing frontiers of medicine and the values of our modern technological age present unprecedented ethical and moral dilemmas for physicians.
And that modern technological medicine and rising public expectations contribute to escalating health care costs.

The MMA

DECLARES its commitment to the highest possible professional and ethical standards of health care,

EMBRACES the principles of social justice and compassion for all and enjoins all physicians to be sensitive and responsive to the health needs of all,

RECOGNISES its educational role in influencing health policies in the community, including the prevention of disease, promotion of healthy lifestyles, protection of the environment and personal responsibility for health,

REAFFIRMS the need for physicians to retain their autonomy and professional integrity with renewed ideals and ethics,

AND RESOLVES to make health care more rational, equitable and affordable, in a system compatible with equal access to quality health care, based on need,

SO THAT IT MAY STAND FIRM AND RESOLUTE in responding appropriately to the challenges ahead and in fulfilling its responsibilities to the medical profession and society.

Charters

MMA Members' Charter
HIV / AIDS Charter
Patients' Charter

The Malaysian Medical Association, as a professional body representing the largest number of medical practitioners in the country, pledges the following to its members in good standing:

To defend and preserve at all times the Constitution of the Malaysian Medical Association in the execution of the legitimate rights, interests and privileges of membership of the Members.
To uphold the image and credibility of the medical profession in ensuring that the Members provide the highest standard of health care to the people of Malaysia.
To treat all Members with honesty, sincerity and equality, and to respect their honour and dignity.
To ensure that the Officers and Staff of the Association will serve the Members without self-interest and without prejudice.
To ensure that the legitimate professional interests of all Members are safeguarded, and that the Ethical Code of the Association and other related Professional Codes are upheld in all dealings of the Association.
To uphold the bona fide interests of all Members in all dealings with the government and its related agencies, other professional medical and non-medical and, non-governmental organisations.
To safeguard and, when necessary, further enhance, the personal interests and benefits of the Members, in all matters of investments, endowments, insurance and other financial undertakings.
To provide accessibility for Members to all relevant notices and publications of the Association, and opportunities for their Continuing Medical Education.

Preamble:

Recognising the imperative necessity for concerted action by all Malaysians to halt the spread of HIV,
Recognising the paramount importance of HIV / AIDS awareness and knowledge among all sections of the population,
Recognising that there is (wide-spread) discrimination and prejudice against persons living with HIV / AIDS and their partners, families and caregivers,
Recognising that the escalating HIV / AIDS epidemic will have an adverse impact on the socio- economic developments of the nation, thus endangering the achievement of Malaysia’s Development Policy as enshrined in Vision 2020,
Recognising that Doctors including general practitioners / primary care givers, are in a crucial position to provide care and support to those living with HIV / AIDS and to disseminate information amongst the population at large on prevention of infections as well as care and acceptance of those living with HIV / AIDS.
This Charter sets out the basic framework of shared rights and shared responsibilities incumbent on all members of the medical profession in Malaysia.

Rights & Responsibilities Of Doctors

All doctors shall be caring, adequately educated and sensitised to HIV / AIDS issues to enable them to carry out their duties and responsibilities without prejudice and discrimination. This shall form part of the continuing medical education requirements.
Doctors shall provide caring, adequate, accepted and complete management and treatment to all people living with HIV / AIDS, in primary care and secondary and tertiary care institutions, whether private or public.
Doctors, in matters relating to carrying out blood or other tests to identify people living with HIV / AIDS, and in their subsequent management, shall adopt a careful sympathetic approach. Adequate pre- and post-test counseling is very important particularly to ensure there is informed consent to testing and test results are communicated appropriately.
Doctors shall at all times provide guidance, assistance and counseling on HIV / AIDS with emphasis on prevention of infection as well as care and acceptance for those living with HIV / AIDS to all people including but not limited to those seeking such information whether for personal or other reasons.
Every doctor shall strictly follow universal precautions to protect himself or herself and his or her patients, and shall, whenever possible, ensure that such universal precautions are also observed by his or her fellow healthcare workers for their own protection.
Patients who are HIV-positive shall be encouraged to inform the attending doctor(s) of their HIV status. Information about a patient’s HIV status shall be restricted to doctors, nurses, trainees and other authorised personnel on a need-to-know basis.
Doctors shall have the right to a safe working environment. They shall be provided with:
- adequate personal protection equipment;
- care and support especially counseling and stress management;
- compensation / insurance for occupationally acquired disease.
A doctor who is HIV-positive shall have the right to continue working, subject to approval and regular review by suitably qualified specialists with regard to his or her ability to continue in his or her line of work within his or her profession. However, a doctor who is HIV-positive shall not perform any invasive procedures which may place his or her patient at risk.
Doctors have the right to have their own HIV status kept confidential.

Memorandum Of Understanding

This Memorandum of Understanding dated 21st August 1995 is between The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, The Malaysian Medical Association, The Malaysian Dental Association and The Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society.

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) is committed to the protection of consumer rights and to consumer education.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is committed to sustaining the professional standard of medical ethics as to education and directing public opinion on the problems of public health as affecting the community at large.

The Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) is dedicated to supporting and promoting a high standard of ethics and professional conduct and to directing public opinion on dentistry and the problems of dental health.

The Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) is committed to further the development of pharmacy, to enhancing the standards and ethics of the profession and to assisting in improving the health services in the country.

Representatives from each of the above organization signed the Memorandum of Understanding:

1. Dato’ Dr. R.S. McCoy	President of MMA
2. Encik Mohd Hamdan Adnan	President of FOMCA
3. Dr. A. Ratnanesan	President of MDA
4. Mr. John C.P. Chang	President of MPS

PREAMBLE TO THE PATIENT’S CHARTER RECOGNISING that the relationship between the provider of health care and a patient is privileged and sacrosanct.

RECOGNISING that the highest traditions of health care mandate mutual trust and respect between the provider of health care and the patient.

RECOGNISING that the meaningful partnership between the provider of health care & a patient requires that the patient participates actively in decisions relating to the patient’s health.

RECOGNISING that a patient must assume not only rights but also responsibilities.

RECOGNISING that this Charter advocates universal ideals and standards of health care, which the government, the providers of healthcare and the public should strive to achieve.

RECOGNISING that this Charter is an educational document embodying the Code of Medical Ethics.

THE PARTIES HERETO ADOPT THIS CHARTER AND CALL UPON ITS OBSERVANCE BY ALL CONCERNED.

Find out more about Patient's Right and Patient's Responsibilities.