You can check whether a doctor is registered in Malaysia in about two minutes, for free, before you book. The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) runs a public online register, and the Ministry of Health (MOH) publishes a way to check whether a clinic itself is licensed. Many people skip both.
This guide covers what each check shows and what it does not. It is general information, not medical advice.
Why check a doctor is registered in Malaysia
The Ministry of Health said on 03/06/2026 that only premises registered or licensed under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, also called Act 586, may provide healthcare services. The statement, reported by Bernama, covers aesthetic medical services too.
Providing healthcare at unregistered or unlicensed premises is an offence under Act 586. The penalty can be a fine of up to RM500,000, up to six years' imprisonment, or both.
Registration is a legal minimum. It tells you that the doctor and the premises are on the books. It does not rate the quality of care, so it is the first filter, not the last.
Step 1: Search the MMC MeRITS register and read the result
Search the register
MeRITS is the MMC's public register of doctors. Open the registered doctor search.
The search lets you filter by:
- The doctor's name
- Where they graduated from
- Place of practice
- Type of registration, either full or provisional
- Practising certificate (TPC) number
Results come back as a table with the doctor's name and where they graduated, and a link to the full details. The register is large, with thousands of pages of entries, so use the name field and the place of practice to narrow results.
Read the registration type and practising certificate
Finding a name is only the start. According to a verification guide from The Retreat Clinic, which cites MMC and MOH sources, there are two things to confirm:
- The registration is full, not provisional or temporary.
- There is an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) for the current year, with a certificate number and a principal place of practice.
The APC is the yearly credential a doctor needs to practise. The same guide notes MeRITS shows only the most recent three years of certificates.
If the current year is missing, ask the clinic to explain before you book.
For help with public clinics, see how to book a Klinik Kesihatan appointment on MySejahtera.
Step 2: Check the clinic is licensed
A registered doctor can still work from an unlicensed place. The MOH route covers the premises. Malaysia.gov.my lists two official resources:
- A list of registered or licensed private health facilities.
- A search application for registered or licensed private health facilities, accessed through MyGeoPortal.
The categories covered include private hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, maternity centres, haemodialysis centres, ambulatory care centres, nursing homes, psychiatric nursing homes, blood banks, hospices and community mental health centres.
Use the MOH tools rather than the clinic's own claims. A sign or Instagram post is not proof.
Step 3: Check extra credentials for aesthetic procedures
Aesthetic work has its own layer. The Retreat Clinic guide describes a Letter of Credentialing and Privileging (LCP) issued by the MOH Medical Practice Division, on the recommendation of the main credentialing and privileging committee.
The key points:
- It is issued only to registered medical practitioners.
- It names the specific procedures the doctor may perform. It is not a general licence.
- Validity is three years for general practitioners and five years for specialists, per the guide.
The guide points to an MOH aesthetic registry at hq.moh.gov.my/medicalprac/estetik/. If you are booking a procedure such as fillers or lasers, ask which LCP covers it, and check it there.
Step 4: Report unlicensed premises
MOH invites complaints and information at [email protected]. In its June 2026 statement, MOH said that since 2021 it had received more than 1,020 complaints, conducted 320 raids, opened 126 investigation papers, issued warnings in 194 cases and taken 70 cases to court.
If something looks wrong, such as no visible licence or a doctor who cannot be found on MeRITS, you do not have to confront anyone. A short email with the clinic name, address and what you saw is enough to start.
For free screening options in the public system, see how to check your PeKa B40 eligibility.
What registration does not tell you
The MeRITS fields described above cover identity, graduation institution, place of practice, registration type and practising certificate. The MOH pages reviewed for this guide describe licensing status of premises. None of them describe patient outcomes or complaint histories.
So a clean register entry confirms the legal basics. It does not replace the usual questions: what the procedure involves, what the risks are, what it costs in total, and what happens if something goes wrong. Ask for those in writing where you can.
FAQ
What is MeRITS?
It is the Malaysian Medical Council's online register of doctors. You can search by name, graduation institution, place of practice, registration type or practising certificate number.
What is an Annual Practising Certificate?
The yearly credential a doctor needs to practise, shown on MeRITS with a certificate number and principal place of practice for the current year.
Does registration mean the doctor is good?
No. It shows legal registration, not quality. Use it as a baseline, then ask about experience and read the consent paperwork.
How do I know a clinic is licensed?
Use the MOH list or the MyGeoPortal search linked from Malaysia.gov.my. Both cover private clinics, hospitals and other categories under Act 586.
Where do I report an unlicensed clinic?
Email [email protected] with the clinic name, address and details, as given in MOH's June 2026 statement.
