MNU: Those with degrees in psychology must be allowed to give treatment

Maldives National University (MNU) has said that those who have achieved Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology must be allowed to give treatment in their field.

Maldives Allied Health Council said that a Master’s Degree in the specialized field is required along with the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology to register as a Psychologist. Those who graduated last April did not receive the temporary permit of Psychologist’s Assistant.

Head of the MNU Psychology Department, Aishath Shanoora told Sun Media today that the students who achieved Degree in Psychology are capable of working in the field and must be allowed to work.

If not as a Psychologist, MNU’s Shanoora said that they are at least capable of practicing as a Psychologist’s Assistant.

She said that people with Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology can work as psychologists and need the experience to do Master’s Degree.

Shanoora said that discussions were held with the Health Minister when the law was going to be made and discussions are now underway as well.

Regarding the concerns of the Psychologists, the Deputy Director General of the Health Ministry, Thasleema Usman said that a decision has not been made on those with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and is yet to be discussed. And the discussion is set with the MNU next week.

Maldives Institute for Psychological Service Training Research (MIPSTR) and the Institute for Counseling and Psychotherapy (ICP) have both said that they have closed down since the Ministry is not registering their psychologists.

The longest serving psychologist in the country, 25-year veteran Dr. Aishath Ali Naaz said that the current regulation in effect does not give the opportunity for graduates of Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology to work.

Dr. Naaz said that they are capable of working under the supervision of psychologists and must be granted some permit instead of wasting them.

Technical Director of ICP and Psychiatrist Fathimath Sauda said that new graduates of psychology degrees need a permit as an Assistant Psychologist or by any other name and must be allowed to work.

Those with Master’s Degree in Psychology are very rare in the Maldives. Most psychologists in the Maldives are with Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and work under advisement of those with Master’s Degrees.