Dentists in Malaysia are looking forward to a dialogue with Health Ministry after launching a signature campaign protesting against several unfair provisions in the Dental Bill 2012.

There are about 2,500 dental practitioners nationwide and most of them are upset with the short notice to study the Bill that is expected to be bulldozed through in the current session of Parliament.

For this reason, the 600-strong member Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners' Association (MPDPA) has urged Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai to give them more time to study it in detail.

MPDPA president Dr Malliga Vadiveloo said the association was concerned about six areas in the Bill that dentists believe would curtail their practice.

"If the Bill as it is becomes law, it may increase the cost of treatment, as well as restrict the services a dental practitioner can offer to the public at a reasonable cost.

"General dental practitioners feel that the new act may infringe on the scope of treatment that they have been providing all these years," Malliga said.

'Keep 1971 Dental Act'

Overall, the MPDPA is convinced that the current Dental Act 1971 should not be repealed.

Another point of great concern is re-designating dental nurses as ‘dental therapists'.

MPDPA feels they can be placed under a Nursing Board or a Dental Nurses Act, with both of these coming under the purview of the ministry's Oral Health Division.

From next year, about 700 new dental surgeons will graduate from the various dental colleges in the country.

Many of these dentists are expected to enter the private sector after two years of government service - and flood the market with more dentists.

Malliga also said the penalty for offences committed by dentists should commensurate with the nature of the offences committed. This would be in keeping with practices in developed countries.

"Private dental practitioners are committed to providing the best oral care to all Malaysians. In this context, legislation and policies formulated should create a harmonious atmosphere for all concerned parties.

"We are confident that the concerns listed by the MPDPA will be addressed by the authorities concerned," she added.

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