SHAH ALAM: Malaysia needs more pharmacists to meet the ideal 1:1,200 ratio in order to provide the best services to the people.
Health Ministry's Pharmaceutical Services Division senior director Dr Salmah Bahri said the country required at least several thousands more pharmacists to cater to the country's growing population.
"The scope of pharmaceutical services is very wide, from services in hospitals, community, basic and secondary treatments, as well as in manufacturing and distribution sectors. The number of pharmacists we have are still not enough.
"In the line of patient services alone, the country has yet to reach the ratio between 1:1,000 and 1:1,200.
"We also need pharmacists for other sectors as well including in industrial, manufacturing, laboratory and universities," she told reporters after the launching of World Pharmacists Day Sports Championship event at Panasonic National Sports Centre, here today.
Dr Salmah said the ratio of pharmacists in the basic treatment care line stood at one pharmacist per 1,600 persons.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the statistics of dengue cases in the country between Jan and this month had shown a decrease compared to the same period last year.
He said this came from efforts by the ministry to educate the public in their role to fight the problem.
"However, we are still facing problems because there are members of the public who are yet to take any action, despite having the knowledge on what they should do.
Translated from Harian Metro