KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry (MOH) is still carrying out detailed studies and assessments before deciding whether the dengue vaccine should be included under the National Immunisation Programme (NIP), said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said the evaluation includes a cost-benefit analysis, particularly as the newly introduced dengue vaccine remains relatively expensive, Bernama reported.
“I know that one vaccine has obtained approval and has been registered by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and is being used in private facilities. Do give us some time…we are currently conducting a cost-benefit analysis on a dengue vaccine from Japan.
“To make it part of the NIP is not easy. We have to study it carefully … besides that, there are several other vaccines in the planning by the Health Ministry. We are waiting for reasonable ones and will announce them if we make a decision,” he told reporters.
He said this after officiating the Negeri Sembilan Dental Specialist Centre (PPPNS) here today. The event was also attended by Health deputy director-general (Oral Health) Dr Zuraida Mohamed, who is also the Negeri Sembilan Health director.
Dzulkefly said more than 61,000 dengue cases had been reported nationwide up to Epidemiological Week 33 of 2026, ending Aug 22, representing a 60.8% increase compared with the same period last year.
He added that 58 dengue-related deaths had also been recorded.
In response to the rise in cases, the MOH has activated its dengue operations room and deployed personnel to identified hotspots, particularly in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
The ministry is also expanding the use of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes as a biological control measure to curb the spread of dengue.
Dzulkefly stressed that dengue prevention requires a collective effort involving not only the MOH, but also local authorities and other agencies to ensure homes and premises do not become breeding sites for Aedes mosquitoes.
Meanwhile, he said the ministry is reviewing a proposal to expand basic dental screening and treatment services under the PeKa B40 scheme, with implementation expected once approval is obtained.
He said dental care should be prioritised as part of preventive healthcare and primary care efforts, particularly in addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The minister also highlighted that the PPPNS, which was built at a cost of RM32 million, is Malaysia’s first dental specialist referral facility located outside a hospital setting.
Since beginning operations on Sept 25, 2025, the centre has treated 11,085 patients as of June this year.
He said the PPPNS serves as a central zone referral hub covering Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Melaka, with a combined population of 11.89 million people.
“With the addition of 18 modern dental chairs, our daily treatment capacity has surged by nearly 90 per cent from 80 patients to 150 patients per day, and the waiting period for specialist treatment has also decreased from two months to two to three weeks,” he said.
Dzulkefly said the centre’s transformation is supported by the Dental Information System, advanced imaging facilities and skill laboratories that provide continuous clinical training for dental personnel.
“This centralised model will be expanded to other states in phases, starting with zonal levels such as the central zone in Negeri Sembilan and the Borneo zone before continuing by state to ensure equitable access to services,” he added.
The MOH is also working to improve access to basic dental services through outreach initiatives, with eight new Mobile Dental Clinics expected to be delivered by the end of this year to Sabah, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Putrajaya and Johor. – August 27, 2026