Medical Protection Society and MEDEFEND confirm continued indemnity for doctors awaiting 2026 APC certificates
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has secured crucial assurances from two major professional indemnity providers that doctors awaiting their 2026 Annual Practising Certificates (APC) will remain fully covered during the interim period.
In a statement, today, MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo announced that both Medical Protection Society (MPS) and MEDEFEND have formally confirmed continuous indemnity coverage for doctors who submitted complete APC applications by December 31, 2025.
The confirmation addresses critical concerns raised by private general practitioners and specialists who have been caught in uncertainty following delays in the Malaysian Medical Council’s (MMC) processing of APC applications for 2026.
More than 14,000 doctors are estimated to be affected by the delay, which has left medical practitioners uncertain about their legal status and professional liability protection despite having fulfilled all statutory requirements.
“This commitment from MPS and MEDEFEND provides vital assurance for our members and the broader medical fraternity, ensuring continuity of indemnity arrangements while awaiting official APC issuance,” Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu stated in the press release.
According to the MMA statement, the indemnity coverage applies to doctors who meet two key conditions:
First, they must have received certification of indemnity for the period commencing January 1, 2026.
Second, they must have submitted their APC applications to MMC by December 31, 2025.
These doctors will continue being fully indemnified under their policies or terms of membership during this interim period, aligning with the MMC President’s earlier clarification on the matter.
For enquiries regarding indemnity coverage, affected doctors can contact:
- Medical Protection Society (MPS): Dr Kaema Nadarajan at +60 12 959 3367 or email asiaenquiries@medicalprotection.org
- Marsh MEDEFEND: Ratnawati Osman at +60 12 206 7097 or email Ratnawati.Osman@marsh.com
The Malaysian Medical Council apologised for delays in processing certificates following a sharp increase in applications received at the end of last year, including applications with supporting documents received late.
MMC assured that medical practitioners who submitted applications and made payment on or before December 31 may continue practising without penalties, provided they are not subject to any restrictions under the Medical Act 1971.
The council clarified that the effective date of the APC would be January 1, 2026, or according to the date of professional indemnity coverage, rather than the approval or issuance date.
The APC delay has created significant legal concerns for the medical profession. Under Section 20(1) of the Medical Act 1971, practising medicine without a valid APC constitutes an offence, regardless of whether renewal requirements have been fulfilled.
For private specialists, the situation was particularly pressing. Hospitals and medical institutions must insist on valid APCs due to high medico-legal exposure, including vicarious liability where institutions may be held legally responsible if unlicensed doctors practise within their facilities.
Dr Thirunavukarasu had previously emphasised that even short periods without the ability to practise could affect doctors’ livelihoods, professional standing, and continuity of patient care.
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad intervened to clarify that APCs for 2026 will take effect on January 1, 2026, for all medical practitioners who submitted complete applications before December 31, 2025.
The minister stated that the effective date is not dependent on the date of approval or issuance, and assured doctors that their indemnity and legal status remain intact.
Dr Dzulkefly announced his office had engaged with MMC to implement a systemic remedial plan covering audit and accountability measures, with MMC to submit a detailed report outlining root causes and mitigation measures. The plan also includes a digital overhaul of the legacy MeRITS system.
The MMA statement noted “the recent update from CKAPS on regulatory enforcement” and extended appreciation to the Health Minister “for his commitment to resolving this issue promptly and pragmatically.”
CKAPS (Cawangan Kawalan Amalan Perubatan Swasta), or the Private Medical Practice Control Section under the Ministry of Health, oversees the regulation and licensing of private medical practices in Malaysia.
While specific details of the CKAPS update were not elaborated in the MMA statement, the reference suggests coordination between various regulatory bodies to ensure doctors can continue practising without enforcement action during the APC processing period.
The Malaysian Medical Association emphasised its continued engagement with all stakeholders to protect the rights and professional standing of medical practitioners and support continuity of patient care across the private healthcare sector.
“MMA values the support of these partners, who have consistently upheld high standards of medico-legal protection for medical practitioners in Malaysia,” Dr Thirunavukarasu stated, referring to MPS and MEDEFEND.
The association has been actively liaising with MMC, the Ministry of Health, and professional indemnity providers to navigate this unprecedented situation affecting tens of thousands of doctors nationwide.
MMA has suggested a comprehensive review of administrative operations within MMC, including staffing adequacy, workload management, and process efficiency, to ensure such delays do not recur.
The association also supports MMC’s plans to strengthen and accelerate the APC system’s digital transformation towards a real-time, transparent, and user-friendly platform.
MMA welcomed MMC’s commitment to resolve all pending APC issuances by January 31, 2026, which provides much-needed clarity to doctors who were left in uncertainty and relieves administrative and legal pressure from hospitals, pharmaceutical partners, and insurance networks.
The situation highlights systemic challenges in Malaysia’s medical regulatory framework and underscores the need for modernised digital infrastructure to handle the growing number of registered medical practitioners, which has increased from 44,802 APCs issued in 2017 to 74,333 in 2024.
