How the non-public sector can help in developing a holistic healthcare practitioner

Introduction: The provision of higher education has been for the longest time the responsibility of the state. With increasing demands for places in institutions of higher learning, there has been increasing involvement of the non-public (private) sector in this area. The extent of this involvement is wide and encompasses both nonprofessional and professional qualifications. This involvement has brought the issue of ensuring that graduates from the non-public sector institutions are on par with their public sector counterparts. Methods: This paper looks at strategies that are in place or that may be employed to ensure that the non-public sector plays its part in developing holistic and fit for purpose healthcare practitioners with a primary focus on the Malaysian doctor. It is largely based on the local landscape, referring to global standards, expectations and recommendations. Results: Developing a holistic healthcare practitioner begins with appropriate selection and delivering accredited standardised training and assessment. Conclusion: It is expected that these strategies are similar for all healthcare professionals, and that adhering to the required measures will meet the expectations of the primary stakeholder, the patient.