SIBU: The Dental Bill will make it compulsory for all dental professionals to gain accredited continuing professional development (CPD) points for renewal of Annual Practicing Certificate (APC).

This was disclosed by president of Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) Dr Teh Tat Beng      yesterday.

“The Dental Bill known as Dental Act 2014 is now at the AG Chamber, waiting to be passed in parliament.

“This is certainly a positive movement for our profession. What is more important behind this exercise is to inculcate the practice of ‘Life Long Learning’.

“We live in the Age of Knowledge and Technology Explosion, the ‘half life’ of dental technology is advancing at a speed never experienced before by our predecessors.

“Therefore, to ensure that we remain at the forefront of this information and technological revolution, we got to equip ourselves with skills, knowledge as well as shrewd foresight to stay ahead of the tide,” he said  at the 2nd Sibu Dental Congress cum Exhibition  at a leading hotel here.

Dr Teh’s text-of-speech was read  by president elect Dr John Ting Sii Ong, who represented him.

On the Personal Data Protection Act, Dr Teh said the association fully understood and supported the objectives of having the Act to prevent identity theft and unfair commercial and other abuses of personal data.

He, however, added that the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act under which dentists were regulated had already fully protected the personal data of patients.

“The council had met with the PDPA Commission to discuss things related to PDPA, we also appeal to the Commission to look into the possibility of sole proprietor of general dental practitioner be exempted from having to register as a data user under the PDPA,” Dr Teh said.

He also said the Medical Device Act passed in 2012 was now in the process for registration of the equipment and instrument of dental/medical traders.

Apparently there was some confusion over the registration process which might result in huge financial implications for the traders and therefore indirectly affecting the cost of dental treatment, he reckoned.

“MDA had set up a committee consisting of our members and traders to come up with an advisory to resolve the issue for the benefit of our profession and the general public. The advisory has been sent out.”

He also expressed relief that MDA had been reinstated, assuring the director-general of ROS that they would tighten their financial policy and make sure the error was not repeated.

Meanwhile, organising chairman Dr James Chu Kok Weng said the objective of the event was to provide continuing dental professional education to dental professionals.

He said a total of 100 dentist delegates and 120 dentist auxilliaries attended the congress.

source:The Borneo Post