There are not enough dentists in Malaysia to achieve the desired national dentist–patient ratio. (Photo: Dragon Images/Shutterstock)2013-10-23 | News Asia Pacific

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: As reported by YourHealth, the health and wellness website of online news platform AsiaOne, Malaysia is in need of more than 5,000 dentists in order to achieve its desired dentist–patient ratio. According to the Ministry of Health, there are currently only 4,558 dentists in the country.

According to YourHealth, the Malaysian Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr Subramaniam s/o K.V. Sathasivam, said that the current dentist–patient ratio is 1 to 6,436. However, by working closely with universities to increase the number of dental students, the ministry hopes to achieve the target of 1 to 3,000 by 2020. Last year, 315 dental students graduated and the number increased to 815 in 2013, he said.

There are a total of 50 dental clinics and a mobile dental unit in the country. In addition, dental departments have been set up at 929 schools, 570 health clinics and 65 hospitals, the minister added.