Today and Future

The MOS draws its members from the government, university and private sectors. While majority of its current members are clinical oncologists and oncology trainees, there are also surgeons and physicians with special interest in oncology who add diversity to the society’s membership pool.

MOS activities and functions are spearheaded by an elected executive committee (ExCom). Recent years have seen a broader participation of young oncologists and oncology trainees in MOS activities. The MOS consistently advocates evidence-based practice, with its members engaging with the media or public to dispel fears, myths or negative perceptions of modern oncology treatment, and to repel alternative treatments with no sound scientific basis or evidence.

The ‘Annual Scientific Congress of the Malaysian Oncological Society’ (ASCOMOS) is the main event organised by MOS to showcase the latest developments in the field of oncology. Since its inception, ASCOMOS has grown in prestige and is the most highly-anticipated local oncology event annually. The conference provides an important platform to keep abreast with up to date treatment modalities and clinical data, to share local or international scientific research work and to promote scientific collaboration between various centres or related disciplines.

The MOS had been championing the formation of the “Chapter of Oncology” in the College of Radiology, Academy of Medicine Malaysia (CoR, AMM) to further ensure the growth of this specialty. This had recently been approved by the College of Radiology. The eventual aim will be to form the “College of Oncology” in the Academy of Medicine, Malaysia when we have the required numbers. This will allow the specialty to flourish, set standards and contribute significantly towards nation building.

The Past

Establishment

1976

The Malaysian Oncological Society (MOS) was first established in 1976 by senior clinicians from various disciplines namely haematology and gynaecology, with interest in cancer care. As there were only a handful of clinical oncologists then, the MOS president was a haematologist, and later a gynaecologist at some point.

Limited oncologists

1980’s

The society went into a hiatus in the mid 1980’s as there were very few oncologists to sustain the society.

The revival of MOS

1990’s

The 1990’s saw the return of a number of government-sponsored clinical oncologists to the country and with it the revival of the MOS to see to their continued education needs and up to speed with the latest development in the oncology sphere. The main mission of the MOS was to be a platform to organise meetings to update clinicians and other specialists alike regarding cancer and to practice evidence-based medicine.

Annual Scientific Meeting

1996

To this end, the “revived” MOS organised its Annual Scientific Meeting in 1996 in Hotel Vistana, Kuala Lumpur. Since then, the highlight of the society was the annual scientific meeting.

Oncology training programme

2003

Over the years, the society has gained in strength and numbers aided by the establishment of an oncology training programme by Universiti Malaya (UM) in 2003 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National University of Malaysia (UKM). This programme has successfully produced a number of oncologists and continues to do so.

Collaboration

2007-2018

The MOS collaborated with European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) for the inaugural 1st Joint ESMO-MOS Conference in January 2015. The 52nd Malaysia-Singapore Congress of Medicine (MSCM) in July 2018 is another joint event incorporating ASCOMOS. The MOS is also an active member of SEAROG (South East Asian Radiation Oncology Group) since 2007, and FARO (Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology) since 2014.

Active membership

2008-2018

Active membership drives over the last 10 years have seen the society membership rise steadily from 120 members in 2008, to approximately 230 members as of mid-July 2018. The MOS draws its members from the government, university and private sectors. While majority of its current members are clinical oncologists and oncology trainees, there are also surgeons and physicians with special interest in oncology who add diversity to the society’s membership pool.