Malaysia needs 10,000 dental practitioners by 2020 - Dr Subramaniam

Malaysia needs about 10,000 dental practitioners by the year 2020 in order to achieve one to 3,000 ratio of dentist to population, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam today.

He was confident the target would be achieved as there was an increase in dentistry graduates from local and foreign universities every year and positive development in the field.

"There were 600 graduates in 2012, 800 this year and more than 1,000 next year.

"We have an estimated 4,000 dental practitioners, 58 percent government and 42 percent private. It is now a ratio of one to about 6,436," he said.

He was speaking at a press conference after attending the Dental Health Carnival "My Teeth, My Pearls" in conjunction with the 2013 Dental Health Day and "The Malaysia Book of Records Longest Puppet Show on Dental Health" feat officiated by the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, here today.

Subramaniam stressed that the dental sector was an important basic need for the development of a country and the ministry was committed in providing the necessary infrastructure and programmes.