New Dental Act effective from January

 

The Dental Act 2018 will provide for the setting up of the Malaysian Dental Council and the Malaysian Dental Therapists Board, the regulation of dental practice. (Freepik pic)

PUTRAJAYA: The Dental Act 2018 (Act 804) will come into force effective Jan 1, 2022 to replace the Dental Act 1971 which has regulated the practice of dentistry for the past 50 years.

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that in line with developments in the practice and technology in dentistry, a new act with a wider jurisdiction and covering all aspects was needed.

The act, which contains nine divisions and 104 sections, stipulates that only qualified, competent and professional practitioners will be registered and qualified to provide dental services.

“With this, the quality and safety of dental service is guaranteed and will boost the confidence and trust of the people,” he said in a statement today.

Act 804 also provides for the setting up of the Malaysian Dental Council (MDC) and the Malaysian Dental Therapists Board, the regulation of dental practice and other related matters.

The act will also enable enforcement to be taken against dental practices which do not comply with the act, including those that carry out illegal dental practices, he said.

Khairy Jamaluddin.

According to Khairy, among the new provisions of the act was the Professional Qualifying Examination for the purpose of the registration of dentists, registrations of dental specialists and dental therapists.

It also provided the need to collect points for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Professional Indemnity Cover for applications of practising certificate and enforcement in dental practices.

“It is mandatory for all practitioners to collect CPD points and obtain Professional Indemnity Cover, before renewing the practising certificate. This provision will be enforced on Jan 1, 2025,” he said.

In the meantime, Khairy said all dentistry graduates who want to register with the MDC must ensure they pass the Professional Qualifying Examination.

Those with qualifications listed in the Second Schedule of the Dental Act 1971, are allowed to register with the MDC without having to sit for the Professional Qualifying Examination.

The approval is only valid for a five-year period from the date the act is enforced, namely, from Jan 1 next year until Dec 31, 2026, he said.

“Under this act, dentists who have registered with the MDC can opt to undergo their compulsory services in the public or private service,” he said.

Dentists with post-degree specialist qualifications approved by the council can apply to be registered as dental specialists in any 12 dental specialties from February 2022, he said.

Among the specialties listed currently are oral and maxillofacial surgeries, pediatric dentistry, conservative surgery and orthodontics.

Further information on the enforcement of Act 804 can be obtained by contacting the health ministry’s Dental Health Programme through e-mail ohd@moh.gov.my or the Malaysian Dental Council at mdc@moh.gov.my. - FMT