Wanted - more anaesthetists

The Star Online KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs more anaesthetists to meet the increasing demand for their services every day.

Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists president Datin Dr V. Sivasakthi said the country's ratio of anaesthetists to population was one to 45,000.

"Whereas, in developed countries, it is one to 10,000," she said in an interview with Bernama TV.

Dr Sivasakthi, who is also Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department chief, said the shortage was, however, not at a critical stage yet and was expected to improve with the graduation of 40 to 50 medical students annually.

Even though they were sometimes constrained by a lack of anaesthetists currently, the situation was manageable through a more systematic management of schedules, she explained.

The demand is expected to increase when the Hospital's Day Care Procedure Centre opens in November.

The centre will have eight operating theatres, including day-care facilities such as rest and changing rooms.

Dr Sivasakhthi elaborated that being an anaesthetist did not just involve the administering of anaesthesia before surgery.

"People should be aware that they are also responsible for post-surgery monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit and also for chronic pain management," she added. - Bernama