The Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Radiology fraternity with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), are deeply concerned by the rapid rise of unlicensed ultrasound centres across Malaysia.
These centres are actively advertising their services via social media. There is a wide range of services being offered, many of which should be performed by trained medical specialists.
Presently many of these centres are operated by sonographers who remain unregulated. There is currently no legislation or provision under the Medical Act to allow this practice. This allows these unregulated, unlicensed practitioners to evade legal action. This raises serious medicolegal issues and, more importantly, significant patient safety risks and concerns. Worryingly, these individuals often practise without any medical supervision.
We as concerned and caring professionals urge the public not to be misled by these centres that appear to provide highly specialised ultrasound scans at lower costs. These services may provide a wrong diagnosis which can alarm a patient unnecessarily or worse still delay urgent treatment. The services too may give a false sense of security and well-being while lacking the quality, accuracy, and accountability that patients rightly deserve.
It is our strong and concerted view that detailed screening, diagnosis for fetal anomalies in pregnancy, follicular tracking and more detailed ultrasound for infertility management should be done by Qualified Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists & Fertility Specialists respectively.
Specialised and targeted scans such as breast and thyroid lesion characterisation, tumour assessments in abdominal organs, and musculoskeletal evaluations should remain within the expertise of radiologists. These can be performed by trained sonographers strictly under a radiologist’s supervision and not on their own. All formal ultrasound reports (apart from targeted specialized ultrasound by respective subspecialities) should be authorized by radiologists.
General Practitioners (GPs), with appropriate training in Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), may perform basic and focused scans, including but not limited to routine checks in low-risk pregnancies, simple gynaecological conditions, basic abdominal scans, and targeted assessment of lumps, bumps and soft tissue swellings. These are preliminary assessments to guide patient care, and any complex or uncertain findings must be referred to the relevant specialist for full evaluation. Complex, inconclusive or high-risk findings from an initial scan must be referred to a higher level of specialist care for definitive diagnosis and management.
Our patients deserve the highest standard of medical care and their welfare guaranteed. To safeguard patient welfare and uphold the highest standards of medical care,we call on the authorities to urgently address this regulatory gap and the public advised to seek ultrasound services only from appropriately trained and accredited medical professionals.
We steadfastly stand united as one, with a single voice, want this practice to STOP immediately.
Dr RM Udayar Pandian Ramachandhiran
President of Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society Of Malaysia
Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo
President Of Malaysian Medical Association
Dr Farhana Fadzli
President of Colllege of Radiology
Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
Please note that the views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Vital Signs.
