PERSPECTIVE : OVER SATURATION OF DOCTORS AND DENTISTS.

KAMSIAH HAIDER.

With a population of 34 million, Malaysia has 38 universities offering medical degrees and at least 13 dental faculties. It's not surprising that some waiters in the country earn a higher hourly rate than its doctors.

The question arises: why hasn't this issue been addressed? Just as there isn't a need for an excess of budget airlines, having numerous faculties offering medical or dental courses in Malaysia exceeds the demand. A fundamental analysis of the doctor 'market' suggests the necessity of reducing the number of doctors and dentists for the time being.

One might wonder who is accountable for the proliferation of medical and dental faculties.

The result is an oversupply of doctors, prompting some to briefly work in the government sector to obtain their annual practicing certification before transitioning to private practice, saturating every corner of the streets. Consequently, there is a significant number of doctors with questionable capabilities.

While the exceptional ones find opportunities abroad, the majority of mediocre practitioners are left in frustration, resorting to social media promotions to attract patients.