Shortage of oncologists

Our Health Minister Datuk Liaw Tiong Lay said, for Malaysia's population of 26 million, we should have at least 200 oncologists but we have only 39. 39??　In these years, the number of people who get cancer is getting greater. It is an urgent issues that Malaysia needs more medical support to help people who fight with all kind of sickness.

We need at least 200 oncologists but have only 39, says Liow

By LISA GOH

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is currently facing an acute shortage of oncologists, said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the ideal ratio should be eight oncologists per one million people.

“So for Malaysia’s population of 26 million, we should have at least 200 oncologists, but we have only 39 at the moment.

“We are very, very short on oncologists,” he told reporters after opening the First Asia Pacific Conference on Healthy Policy and Planning yesterday.

He added that foreign oncologists had been brought in, but the numbers were still low.

It does not help that there are about 30,000 to 40,000 new cancer cases each year.

“According to the first National Cancer Registry report in 2002, Malaysia men and women have among the world’s highest rate of nasopharyngeal, laryngeal and cervical cancers,” he said.

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