Practitioners call for review of Dental Act

AT the recent annual general meeting of the Malaysian Dental Association, the umbrella body for dental organisations throughout the country, the members passed a resolution urging the Health Minister to review the Dental Act 2017 because they feel it is not favourable to dental practitioners.

Issues like the annual practising certificate, the right of dental graduates to practise any discipline of dentistry, inclusion of dental therapists in the Act, corporatisation of the Dental Council, penalties imposed and the need for more private practitioners in the Dental Council are among the issues which need to be studied.

The members are seeking an urgent meeting with Health Minister Dr Zulkefly Ahmad to address these matters.

Dental practitioners were only able to get the full details of the Act after it was declassified recently. We therefore call for a review of the entire Act.

Of immediate concern to us is that the processes to enforce the Act are ready and would be sent to Dr Dzulkefly for approval before it is implemented.

We hope the minister will have a dialogue with us so that we could highlight the issues of concern before proceeding further with the Dental Act.

As officers on the ground, working with our colleagues in the public sector to ensure good oral health for all in the country, we seek an environment that is fair, friendly, harmonious and pleasant as we carry out our tasks. We know that as our minister, Dr Dzulkefly would ensure this for us.