Work On Penang Dental College To Start Soon

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- After meticulous planning and a two-year wait, work on the country's first standalone dental college hospital, is expected to take off soon.
Its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr S. Sharavanan said the the Higher Education Ministry granted approval for the Penang International Dental College (PIDC), to be built in Bertam, Kepala Batas, recently.
He said the college is expected to enrol the pioneer batch of 80 students for the dental degree programme later this month.
"In its first intake, the PIDC will take in a total of 160 students in two batches comprising locals and foreigners," he told Bernama.
Dr Sharavanan said they would do the first two years of their five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery Twinning Programme in Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation in Salem, South India, before returning to Penang to complete their degree at the college.
"Once these students return to Penang after completing their freshman years, the college, with places for 250 students, will be ready to receive them to continue their remaining years of study," he said.
Explaining the two-year-long wait and untiring efforts made to realise the college, which would be Malaysia's first standalone dental college and hospital, Dr Sharavanan said the college was backed by a strong Board of Governors.
They include former Agriculture Minister Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Daud as chairman and its members comprise, among others, former Director-General of Education Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin and Prof Datuk Dr Sham Sani.
"The most challenging point was getting approval from the country's dental body and complying with their stringent requirements. Having complied with that, it was a period of waiting for the ministry's greenlight," he said.
On why Kepala Batas was picked for the college, Dr Sharavanan said the decision was made after a study was conducted on the area, suitability for the college development and the needs of the people in surrounding areas.
"As there are no dental hospitals in surrounding areas, there is good growth potential for the college," he said.
The move was also in line with Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon's call for development of tertiary learning institutions in the state, he said.
On its future, Dr Sharavanan said the college would certainly play a role in realising the Malaysian government's aspirations to attain a better dental doctor:patient ratio.
The country's present dentist:patient ratio stands at one doctor to 10,500 patients, while the ideal ratio is 1:4,000 in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
He said the RM55 million college would also play a significant role in meeting the growing demand for dentists in the country and to achieve a realistic doctor:patient ratio.
Dr Sharavanan said the college is also expected to attract foreign students to pursue a dental degree in Malaysia, particularly from West Asian countries.
"The cost will be relatively low. With the cultural and social similarities and religious background, Malaysia will be an ideal place for students from West Asian nations.
"It is also in consistent with the Malaysian Government's agenda to turn the country into a regional educational hub and a centre for educational excellence," he added.