Malaysia
Assistant Medical Officers complete a three and half year Diploma in Medical Assistant (DMA) undergraduate program recognized by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. The DMA students study the human body; how the systems, e.g. cardiovascular and respiratory systems, medical and surgical study, pharmacology, work in normal and diseased states and how they relate to medicine. They also learn pre-hospital care, community health, disaster management, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology and surgery. The final year of training involves clinical placement in hospitals and health clinics.
Government colleges that offer the Diploma in Medical Assistant program are:
- College of Medical Assistant, Seremban
- College of Medical Assistant, Alor Setar
- Allied Health Science College Ulu Kinta, Ipoh
- Allied Health Science College, Kuching
- Allied Health Science College, Kota Kinabalu
These are under the health ministry's training department. Private colleges include:
- Kolej Islam Sains & Teknologi
- Management and Science University
- Kolej Universiti ShahPutra
DMA graduates register with the Medical Assistant Council (Lembaga Pembantu Perubatan) before being appointed into service.
Assistant Medical Officers diagnose and treat common ailments, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, manage medical/surgical emergencies, manage medical/surgical ward, manage obstetrics & gynecology and write prescriptions.
They often work in places with no medical officers.
Read more about this topic: Assistant Medical Officer, Training and Practice