SERDANG, April 27 — Malaysia needs at least 6,000 veterinarians to meet industry demands, including improving animal husbandry methods, compared to the current 2,300 veterinarians.
Agriculture and Food Security Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali said the country also aims to achieve a ratio of one veterinarian to 5,000 people (who own pets/livestock), compared to one veterinarian to 14,000 people currently.
“We need approximately 6,000 more veterinarians to help us achieve the aspirations of sustainability and food security,” he told the press after officiating the World Veterinary Day 2024 at the Livestock section of the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang today.
The shortage of veterinarians is also due to the educational opportunities offered in Malaysia and the capacity of two local universities, namely Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), to accommodate the number of applications for veterinary courses, which reaches around 3,000 applications annually.
However, Lokman said UPM only produces 140 to 150 veterinary graduates, while UMK produces around 40 veterinarians every year.
“Therefore, we need to strengthen cooperation at the ministry level, including with the Higher Education Ministry, as well as with local and private universities.
“We also need to provide incentive packages or the equivalent of medical officers’ benefits which can increase involvement in this industry,” he said.
The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) organised the World Veterinary Day celebration, themed ‘Veterinarians Are Essential Health Workers’.
The celebration, which was attended by DVS director-general Dr Akma Ngah Hamid, included various activities like the sale of agricultural equipment products and animal feed, exhibitions of sado (muscular or meaty) cattle, cat examinations, and grooming.
— Bernama
