Malaysia Ministry of Health targets one psychiatrist per 40,000 people

The Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) aims to improve the national ratio of psychiatrists to one specialist for every 40,000 residents, up from the current ratio of one per 69,000. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that this goal will be achieved by expanding and strengthening specialist training programs.

Currently, Malaysia has approximately 700 registered psychiatrists, with nearly 400 serving within the Ministry of Health across 72 hospitals. To address the rising demand for mental health services, the Ministry is adopting a comprehensive approach that includes task shifting. This strategy utilizes over 10,000 registered counselors and more than 500 family medicine specialists working in 1,116 health clinics nationwide to provide early intervention and community-based care.

During the National Mental Health Month 2026 celebrations, the Minister also noted findings from the MyPsyD digital health profile system, which indicated that over 55,000 civil servants are categorized as being at high risk for mental health issues, including suicidal tendencies.