THE MySejahtera app can now be used to book dental appointments at public hospitals and clinics, the Health Ministry said today. 

Its director-general Dr Radzi Abu Hassan said the new feature on the smartphone app help will improve the efficiency of dental service delivery as well as ease of access to dental clinics apart from the standard “walk-in” practice, which he said will still be continued. 

“Through this initiative, people will be able to book dental check-ups, consultations or treatment for the first appointment. 

“If follow-up treatment is required, then it will be arranged, Radzi said in a statement today. 

MySejahtera is an application developed by the Malaysia government to assist in the management of Covid-19 outbreaks in the country. It allows users to perform health self-assessment on themselves and their families.

At present, those seeking treatment at government hospitals and clinics could also use the application to set medical appointments.

Radzi added that the public can book dental health check-up services and plan visits to dental health facilities according to the time allocated and an automatic reminder function on the app would notify users of their appointments. 

He, however, said for dental emergencies, the public can go directly to any nearby dental clinic for treatment without having to book an appointment.

Radzi said the digitalisation of dental appointments through the MySejahtera app has the potential to increase the efficiency of the national dental healthcare service system. 

He said it strengthens selfcare and dental health screening as a measure for early detection and prevention of dental diseases. 

Radzi said the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, Radzi found that 15% of Malaysians have never undergone a dental check-up in their lifetime.

According to the same survey, 50% of Malaysians have undergone a dental check-up in the previous two years.

“This is worrying as the incidence of gum disease and dental cavities among adults is still high, at 90% and 89% respectively, according to the 2010 National Oral Health Survey of Adults,” he said. – May 15, 2023.