GEORGE TOWN, April 18 -- Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has urged the Health Ministry to ensure dental and oral health services are accessible in rural areas through Klinik Kesihatan and Klinik Desa.

He said the current distribution of dentists remains uneven, particularly in rural and under-served communities.

"We still see a shortage of dentists in many rural and under-served regions," he said in his opening speech at the 10th International College of Dentists Section XV and World Stomatology Institute (WSI) International Conference and Induction Ceremony.

Chow noted that Malaysia produces more than 1,000 dental graduates each year, but many young dentists struggle to secure placements - especially in the public sector - due to ...