TAIPING, July 1 — Malaysia continues to face a significant shortage of occupational therapists compared to several developed countries, due to a general lack of public awareness regarding the importance of the profession.
The Health Ministry's (MOH) Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Services head Nora Hamid said that with a population of over 34 million people, only about 2,700 occupational therapists are currently registered under the Allied Health Professions Act 2016 (Act 774).
Over half of that number are serving under the MOH, including in hospitals, health clinics, rehabilitation centres and welfare institutions.
“Currently, the ratio stands at about one therapist for every 10,000 people, which is significantly lower than neighbouring countries such as Singapore (3:10,000) and Hong Kong (4:10,000),” she said at the 2nd Malaysian Occupational Therapy Symposium by the ministry today.
Nora noted that the urgent need to increase the number of professionals in this field aligns with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Rehabilitation 2030 goal, which emphasises strengthening rehabilitation systems and ensuring access to comprehensive treatment.
She said that an occupational therapist not only helps patients regain physical independence but also considers cognitive, emotional and social factors, enabling individuals to return to work, school, driving, socialising, and leading lives with dignity.
The second edition of the symposium, held from July 1 to July 3, aims to spark innovative solutions, strengthen networking efforts and ensure quality occupational therapy services are accessible to all.
Nora said the initiative also supports inter-agency cooperation and the strengthening of professional networks, in line with the symposium’s goal of uniting various perspectives towards inclusive and evidence-based occupational therapy practices.
“The Ministry of Health’s Occupational Therapy Services (OTKKM), in collaboration with the Perak Occupational Therapy team, continues to play a vital role as healthcare professionals advocating for the growth and recognition of occupational therapy both nationally and internationally,” she said.
— Bernama
