Public Health@UM: Creating the future of Public Health

Historical Perspective of the Diploma in Public Health (DPH) at Universiti Malaya

Introduction

The Diploma in Public Health (DPH) was the first postgraduate qualification in public health introduced in Malaya in 1952, marking a turning point in the professionalisation of preventive medicine and health services. It served as a foundation for the subsequent Master of Public Health (MPH) and doctoral programmes, anchoring Malaysia’s contribution to the development of public health capacity across the Western Pacific Region (World Health Organization [WHO], 1952).

Origins and Establishment (1952)

The DPH was established at the University of Malaya to address the growing need for trained medical officers who could effectively manage pressing public health concerns, including malaria, tuberculosis, sanitation, maternal and child health, and nutrition. The programme was recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC) of Great Britain and modelled on the UK’s diploma programmes. It was the first postgraduate medical diploma offered at the University, marking a major step in the professionalisation of public health in Malaya (World Health Organization [WHO], 1952; WHO, 1960).

Prior to this, Malayan doctors seeking advanced public health training had to travel to the United Kingdom, where the DPH was the standard qualification for medical officers entering health services. The creation of a local DPH programme allowed training to be contextualised for the tropics and the Far East, with an emphasis on sanitation, infectious disease control, and rural health surveys.

Curriculum and Training Approach

The DPH curriculum provided a broad multidisciplinary foundation that included biological sciences, social sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, health administration, and health education.

Field exposure was central to the course. WHO study tour reports note that DPH candidates undertook attachments in rural health training centres, such as Jitra (Kedah), to understand how community-based services operated (WHO, 1960).

Growth and Output

During its first two decades, the DPH produced a significant cadre of public health professionals. By the early 1970s, a total of 145 doctors had successfully completed the course, many of whom went on to serve as leaders in the Ministry of Health, academia, and international health agencies (WHO, 1972).

The DPH also strengthened the University’s academic role in preventive and social medicine, complementing undergraduate teaching with community-oriented field surveys and supporting the establishment of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine in Kuala Lumpur (1964).

Regional Recognition and WHO Endorsement

By the mid-1950s and 1960s, the DPH at Universiti Malaya gained recognition as a model postgraduate programme in the Western Pacific. WHO regional seminars highlighted the DPH and MPH as the “foundation courses” in public health, with a common core curriculum that allowed for mutual recognition across institutions (WHO, 1967).

Transition to MPH

In the 1970s, global and regional needs shifted toward longer, research-oriented programmes. WHO encouraged universities to expand the DPH into the Master of Public Health (MPH) to admit a broader range of candidates, integrate research projects, and allow for specialisation (WHO, 1967). Consequently, the DPH was gradually phased out at Universiti Malaya, giving way to the MPH in 1973, which remains the flagship postgraduate programme today.

Legacy

The DPH trained the first generation of Malaysian public health physicians, many of whom became Directors of Health, deans of medical schools, and WHO leaders. Its contributions include:

  • Establishing a culture of preventive and community medicine in medical curricula.
  • Strengthening the public health infrastructure within the Ministry of Health.
  • Laying the foundation for the MPH, DrPH, and PhD programmes at Universiti Malaya.

References

World Health Organization. (1952). Training of medical and public health personnel – Federation of Malaya. Report of the 3rd Session of the Regional Committee, Saigon, 25–30 September 1952. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office.

World Health Organization. (1960). Report of the public health conference and study tour, Federation of Malaya and Singapore. Singapore and Federation of Malaya, 21 August–2 September 1960. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office.

World Health Organization. (1967). Conference of directors of schools of public health: Mutual recognition of DPH/MPH programmes. Geneva/Manila: World Health Organization.

World Health Organization. (1970). Third regional seminar on education and training: Teaching of preventive medicine in medical schools. Manila, Philippines, 13–19 October 1970. World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office.