Dear fellow colleagues,

Greetings from Malaysian Dental Association and to all Muslim friends and colleagues, wishing all of you “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri”. It has now been more than a year since our nation faced the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19. This year marks the second time, our nation celebrates the festive season of Hari Raya Aidilfitri under Movement Control Order. As difficult as it may seems but it is a sacrifice that the whole nation needs to take to ensure the numbers of COVID-19 cases are under controlled and not overwhelming our healthcare facilities. Nevertheless, I wish you all joy and happiness throughout the celebration. May you all be given strength to discharge your duties throughout the pandemic.

Strict adherence to SOPs has now been a new norm for all of us. Recently, some of our members seek clarification from Malaysian Dental Association regarding compound issued by local municipal councils or district health offices to private dental clinics for noncompliance of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures. The inspection officers found some clinics do not have the following in place:

1. Record of daily staff health screening including temperature recording.
2. Record list of patients’ temperature recording
3. Premise sanitisation records of at least 3 times a day.
4. Inward and outward-bound traffic flow within the health premises.

All dental clinics are advised to remain vigilant and comply the SOPs outlined by National Security Council as enforcement officers are carrying out random inspections to ensure all business activities, including health sectors adhere current SOPs. Kindly refer to the SOP for healthcare facilities for more information:
http://covid-19.moh.gov.my/faqsop/sop-pkp-pemulihan/SOP-Perubatan_-Dikemaskini-pada-3-September-2020.pdf

I also wish to draw your attention on the latest advisory for private dental practitioners; “MDA Safety Advisory to Dental Practitioners during the current Concern of COVID – 19 Infection (updated15.05.2021)“. There is an updated definition on COVID-19 cases and guidelines from Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Last but not least, for all those private dental practitioners who have not submitted their names to MDA and also to those who are still waiting for notification for vaccination, the COVID-19 Immunization Task Force has advised MDA that they can personally contact or walk-in to the nearest Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah to arrange for the vaccination appointment for themselves and also for their staffs. Colleagues are advised to bring along documentations for verification purposes. Please kindly visit this website for contact details of the Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah in the country:
https://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/database_stores/store_view/5

I wish all of you the best of health always and to continuously stay safe. I trust that the sky will one day be bright again for all of us. Cheers. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Leong Kei Joe
President