Significant shortage of dietitians at clinics nationwide, says Health PSSC chief

KUALA LUMPUR: Government health clinics lack sufficient dietitians to tackle disease-related malnutrition, says Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Kulai). Read full story KUALA LUMPUR: Government health clinics lack sufficient dietitians to tackle disease-related malnutrition, says Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Kulai).According to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Health chairman, there are about 1,100 health clinics nationwide, but only 50% have access to dietitians.“At the same time, there are only 120 dietitians in primary care, putting it at a ratio of one officer to between five and ten health clinics.“This limits their reach and makes it difficult for them to help, especially in rural areas,” he said when briefing the Dewan Rakyat on the PSSC report on Enhancing Food Policy and Nutritional Intervention on Wednesday (Feb 25).According to Suhaizan, Malaysia is facing disease-related malnutrition that is increasingly prominent and requires immediate attention.“Food is not just a choice but the foundation to the health, productivity, economy and future of Malaysia,” he said.Referencing findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, he said the risk of non-communicable disease (NCDs) among adults remains high.Some 54.4% of adults aged 18 and above are overweight or obese, whereas 29.2% of adults have hypertension, 33.3% have high cholesterol, and 15.6% adults have diabetes mellitus.“This reflects how NCDs are no longer isolated but instead a matter that warrants an immediate structural change.“The situation is further burdened by how 35.9% of adults experience metabolic syndrome while more than half a million adults have four NCDs concurrently,” he said, adding that it impacts productivity and increases the burden on the healthcare system.The committee, Suhaizan said, also proposed scrapping sugar subsidies, with the allocations instead channelled to enhance healthcare agendas.Other proposals included imposing a minimum tax rate for sugary drinks.Healthcare education must also be strengthened, he said, noting how social media is filled with content on unhealthy foods.“We can see much of this content showing these viral meals, but they are not necessarily the healthiest,” he said. Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates! Tags / Keywords: Dietitian , Non-communicable Disease , Primary Care , Malnutrition , Dewan Rakyat , PSSC Report a mistake What is the issue about? Spelling and grammatical error Factually incorrect Story is irrelevant This field is mandatory. Please provide details of the report. Email (optional) Please enter valid email. Report issue Cancel Invalid captcha response. Please re-try again. Thank you for your report! Related News Aseanplus News 18 Jan 2026 Record-breaking Hong Kong powerlifter and dietitian now battles bad online health advice Technology 16 Sep 2025 Amazon ropes in Fay to offer dietitian services on telehealth platform Family 23 Feb 2026 Is whole milk better than low fat milk for children's consumption?