On 2-3 September 2025, the Conjoint Public Health Committee held a two-day workshop to enhance both training and assessment in the field of Public Health Medicine.
About the PH Conjoint Committee
The PH Conjoint Committee is a national collaborative body that oversees postgraduate training in Public Health Medicine. It brings together academics from Malaysian public universities, representatives from the Ministry of Health, and the professional body, the College of Public Health Medicine, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia. This partnership ensures that training programmes are aligned with academic standards, national health service needs, and professional expectations.
Day 1: Improving Student Learning
The first day focused on developing clearer guidelines for student learning during attachment placements, such as those at District Health Offices. The aim is to ensure that all students gain valuable, structured experiences that strengthen their skills in public health practice. These guidelines will also help standardise training across universities, while allowing flexibility for individual programme needs.
Day 2: Updating Examination Framework
The second day addressed improvements to the MEDEX examination, which assesses knowledge in Public Health Medicine. A revised framework was developed to give candidates better guidance on what to expect, while ensuring the exam remains fair and aligned with professional standards.
Universiti Malaya’s Representation
Universiti Malaya was represented at the workshop by Prof Dr Victor Hoe, Assoc Prof Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid, Assoc Prof Dr Tharani Loganathan, and Dr Bala Murali Sundram. In addition, Prof Dr Sanjay Rampal attended as a representative of the College of Public Health Medicine. Their contributions reflect UM’s strong commitment to advancing public health education and professional training in Malaysia.
Why This Matters
Both initiatives are important steps towards strengthening the training of future public health doctors. By improving how students learn during their attachments and by providing clearer expectations for examinations, the workshop contributes to producing well-prepared graduates who can meet the country’s public health needs.
Acknowledgement: The Department of Social and Preventive Medicine thanks the Conjoint Public Health Committee and all partners for their commitment to advancing education in this field.
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