We'll reach WHO ratio by 2018

NST: There will be one doctor for every 600 Malaysians by 2018 - meeting the standard set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for developed countries.
The projection is based on the increase in the number of doctors expected to graduate each year.
"At the rate we are producing doctors, which is 1,500 annually now, this figure will shoot up to 2,500 doctors a year within five years," Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek said in an interview.
"If consistently maintained at 2,500 annually, we should be able to reach the WHO standard by 2018."
At the end of 2004, there were 21,135 doctors in the country. This is split almost equally between the public sector, with 49 per cent, and 51 per cent in the private sector.
In order to achieve the 1:600 ratio, the country needs 43,333 doctors.
While the minister was optimistic of meeting the targeted ratio, he also expressed concern over doctors who are not practising.
It is estimated that there are some 600 to 800 doctors in Malaysia who are not practising.
Dr Chua expects the migration of doctors to private practice to continue as more companies invest in new private hospitals.
"We have been paying a lot of attention for the past one year to how to make the government service more attractive ," he said.
Among the private hospitals which will open are the Sentosa Medical Centre Kajang in November and a minimal invasive cancer therapy centre by Wijaya Baru Global Bhd in Petaling Jaya.