Liow: 1:600 doctor/patient ratio by 2015

KLUANG: Malaysia is expected to achieve the 1:600 doctor patient ratio as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) by 2015, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said at present the ratio was at 1:800.

"We expect that with the 3,500 doctors that we are producing annually, the 1:600 ratio can be attained by 2015 and 1:400 by 2020, which will exceed what WHO wants," he told reporters after making visiting the new Kluang Hospital here.

According to Liow, although 3,500 doctors were being produced annually, there were still hospitals in the country like the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru that were facing a shortage of doctors and other support staff.

He said staffing needs of hospitals differed, depending on their location in densely or less densely populated areas.

He added that his ministry had approved 25 additional doctors for the Kluang Hospital bringing the total number of doctors at it to 45 and would also be holding discussions with the Public Service Department to allocate more support staff for the hospital.

He was accompanied by Kluang MP Dr Hou Kok Chung during the visit. - Bernama