New Commonwealth medical head to boost knowledge sharing

LUMPUR: Enhancing knowledge sharing in healthcare among medical professionals and improving medical student exchange programmes between Commonwealth member countries will be among the priorities of the newly elected president of Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai.

Rajathurai, who is also the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), said knowledge sharing is an encouraged practice that has significantly contributed to many breakthroughs and improvements to the standards of healthcare delivery globally.

“I will be giving emphasis to knowledge sharing during my term, besides developing a CMA digital app to encourage networking among our Commonwealth colleagues.

“I will also work towards improving and enhancing medical student exchange programmes between the countries, in line with these efforts,” he said during the installation ceremony at a hotel here on Saturday.

Rajathurai will serve as president of CMA for a two-year term. It has been 21 years since a Malaysian has been elected as president of CMA. The last was Dr P. Krishnan, who served from 2001-2004.

He added that issues like access to healthcare, global increase in cases of non-communicable diseases, mental health, ageing populations and climate change will also be addressed, among others.

“CMA has a wide network of medical associations from the 54 Commonwealth nations. I am looking forward to meeting them regularly.”

CMA was established in 1952 to assist and strengthen the capacities of medical associations within the Commonwealth countries.

Outgoing president and current World Medical Association president Dr Osahon Enabulele from Nigeria handed over the top leadership role to Rajathurai during CMA’s 26th Triennial Conference and Council Meeting programme here.

Two other MMA exco members were also elected to leadership positions. They are honorary secretary-general Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo as CMA regional vice-president for Southeast Asia while past president Dr Koh Kar Chai was elected CMA treasurer. – Bernama