KUALA LUMPUR: The government aims to increase the number of orthopaedic specialists to address the shortage of such doctors in government hospitals throughout the country.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said the recommended doctor to population ratio for orthopaedic specialist was 1:1500, but the current ratio in Malaysia was 1:5000.
“We need triple the number to achieve balance in terms of doctor to population,” he said during a press conference in conjunction with the Malaysian Orthopaedic Association 47th Annual Scientific Meeting and Golden Jubilee celebration here yesterday.
Therefore, he said the ministry had increased the number of doctors training in the Masters’ Programme in the field of orthopaedic since 2013.
“We can increase the number, but it depends on the capacity of universities in accepting them for training,” he said. — Bernama