Last year in October 2011, the government reduced pharmacist compulsory service from 4 years to 2 years https://pagalavan.com/2011/10/06/i-told-you-so/. It was reported that almost 90% of the post in government sector has been filled. Subsequently, MOH has also allowed pharmacist to do their internship training in private sector. I was also informed that the 2 years compulsory service for pharmacist are now given on contract basis. The only good thing for pharmacist will be that their opportunity in private sector is still open especially when the government introduces the 1Care system which will need a lot of community pharmacies.
Today, MOH has announced that compulsory service for dentist will be reduced from 3 years to 2 years! This sentence really surprised me as well “For those who have served their compulsory two years, they may wish to join the private sector,” she said before launching the Colgate Oral Health Month 2012 in Bandar Utama yesterday.She said that last year, 415 graduates had registered with the Malaysian Dental Council. This represents an almost 400% increase from 2002 to 2011 (112 in 2002 to 415 in 2011),” she said.
Even though the increase is almost 400% in 10 years, the total number is still small (415 last year). Compare this with medicine, where the total number was 7000 last year, from just about 2000-3000 in 2008!! An increase of 4000- 5000 in just 4 years with 50% of the 36 local medical schools yet to produce any graduates!
I know for sure that MMC is being pressurised to reduce the compulsory service to just 2 years of housemanship. Once this is implemented, you need to apply for a job after housemanship ( which will be given on contract basis) in government service or wherever else! There are also some plans by private hospitals to offer themselves for post-graduate training!! God save us all!
So, when will be the doctors turn? 2013? 2014?……………….keep guessing but for sure it is coming.
Shorter stint in govt hospital for dental grads
By WONG PEK MEI pekmei@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Dental graduates will only have to serve the Health Ministry for two years instead of three, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said.
She said the Malaysian Dental Council had approved the shorter national service on Feb 29.
“Due to the tremendous increase in the number of graduates, it is timely that the compulsory national service be shortened. This will ensure that new graduates will continue to serve in the ministry.
“For those who have served their compulsory two years, they may wish to join the private sector,” she said before launching the Colgate Oral Health Month 2012 in Bandar Utama yesterday.
She said that last year, 415 graduates had registered with the Malaysian Dental Council.
“This represents an almost 400% increase from 2002 to 2011 (112 in 2002 to 415 in 2011),” she said.
Rosnah said with the setting up of new facilities and upgrading of existing facilities at the primary care level, the ministry would continue to require the services of dental graduates.
She said there were 4,289 active dental practitioners, with 58% of them serving in the public sector as at Dec 31.
Malaysian Dental Assocation president Dr Mohamad Muzafar Hamirudin said he was shocked to find that 90% of adults had cavities, according to a survey by the ministry.
He said that since oral diseases might be linked with a higher incidence of life-threatening diseases, it was important to educate Malaysians about regular dental check-ups.
Pagalavan's Avatar 
The profession of pharmacy in malaysia is still new compared to UK or US. Recently, i read about an article in internet that many graduates from field of medicines ( pharmacy,optometry,dietitian) struggling to find a job in western country. I guess it will hit malaysia soon.