Dental opportunities in Malaysia

Lots of questions to answer. The first one would be to check if Malaysia even accepts your qualifications. Second would be to read the online news in Malaysia about Malaysia, to get a better understanding of the country.

Foreign medics do have difficulties working in Malaysia as there are more than enough locally and internationally qualified Malaysians to fill those roles and of course, because its private medicine and dentistry, people set up their own clinics and either the insurance policies pay or sometimes the individual. There are so many people missing teeth, I guess that explains the attitude to dentistry and the sort of money available to get problems fixed. It is more a luxury than a necessity.

To live as a family of 4 with two children in private education (no access to Government schools) you would need about RM10-15k per month to survive.

As there are no "jobs" per se, rather partnerships in dentistry businesses, investment would be needed to be able to live in Malaysia.

Dr. Rustam.

The best for started, first, get a job with Dental Clinic in Malaysia .  The culture here in Malaysia is quite different.  Most of the Doctors love to establish  their own clinics. This is including Dentist. Anyway, the best part is, when they open a clinic, they needs few doctors to support his clinic. They will pay by hour or weekly even monthly depends on both parties mutual agreement. There are so many clinics in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor but not for dental clinic. So the opportunity is huge.
Try to avoid Capital city as KL. Look around at Selangor areas such as Damansara Perdana, Mutiara Damansara,  Kota Damansara, sungai buloh, Bukit Rahman Putra Sungai Buloh, Puchong,  Subang jaya, sunway, Shah Alam.
For foreigner to open a business in Malaysia, the main requirement is, your share partner or associate must be a Malaysian.

Thank you Ardan for your reply.

Can you tell what amount of money should I invest to open the doors of dental practice with 2 or 3 dental chairs. Ans does the Malaysian associate or share partner will invest 50/50 with me?
In terms of eligibility to work it's said that I should contact them with my degrees. I'll do it soon.

Thank you a lot Gravitas. I guess you r not advising to consider Malaysia. I read from the net that the dentist anx population ratio is 1 to 10000. So I thought maybe it is an opportunity?

People simply dont have funds to afford dentistry - it is a luxury and not an essential part of good health.

The investment would be RM1 million paid up capital for you to go it alone. You could use this for setting up the equpment, but it would need to be returned to the balance sheet each year for the Report and Accounts. To work in a private hospital you would need to have your own company set up, as the hospitals provide space for for practitioners of every specialty but do not directly employ them. The practioners are then backcharged for communal services and sometimes clinic staff who are provided and managed by the hospital. It depends on individual hospitals.

If you could arrange to open a clinic with a Malaysian, the paid up capital required is RM350,000 and the partner(s) must own 51%. For both approaches there are a lot of licences to obtain for the business. The premises require specialised safety and protection arrangements because of drugs and supplies stored on them.  This must be adhered to carefully to avoid being closed down and taking 6 months to get permission to reopen.

There are quite complicated rules about when a work permit and dependent permits are applicable. This is more simple if you own the business yourself.

Info about Businesses and Employment Passes

You will probably need specialized help to get this off the ground as nothing is done in English when it comes to applications and most forms are only in BM. You may find backers among the Russian population in Malaysia and can share ownership of a 100% foreign-owned business with a number of them to share the paid up capital requirements.

I think the statistics you may have seen could be out of date. If you follow the trends shown the amount of dentists has risen:

Dentist - Poplulation Figures

You are not able to open a Labuan registered business because they are not allowed to do business in Malaysian Ringgit.

Here is some information about whether you will be eligible to work in Malaysia as a Dentist:

Eligibility for Foreigners to Practice Dentistry in Malaysia

Dear Dr. Rustam,

If you asking about the fund amount to open a Dental Clinic, well of course the basic things are still same as whole over the world.

OBJECTIVE
1) LOCATION right?
2) Building type.
3) Size of the Clinic - per floor (sqft)
4) 1 Floor or 2 Floors Clinic.
5) If single floor, which floor is your requirement?  Ground, 1st., 2nd. or 3rd Floor?

SUMMARY
Above items are for normal Dental Clinic whereby the treatment is for middle class and above including patients that covered by their employer and also covered by the insurance company that makes you as one of their panels.
The area is out of Capital City and located at 1 of the residential area I mentioned earlier.
The building is 2 or 3 storey Shop Lot type. The size normally 22' x 75'.
Rental or Purchased?

INFORMATION
Price for Ground floor is always higher than 1st. above no matter rental fee or purchase price. Standard practice in Malaysia, Dentist clinic is located at 1st. Floor. If have to bcoz no other choice due to the limited of shop lot for rent, then may locate at 2nd. Floor. 3rd. Floor is not a normal practice.

How is the interior design you require?
Plaster ceiling, wall paper or paint, tiling, lighting fixtures type, quantity, type of air conditioning, HP & quantity, how many rooms require? (Meant for the wall partitions). How many power points require and all the wiring & plumbing  works etc.
Next, calculate for dental equipments as per your requirement.

Total cost under Renovation, Equipments, Rental Building with contract of 2 years rental (extended is possible) base on rental fee minimum as RM1,200 to Rm3,000 plus the deposit advance of 3 months and 1 month deposit for Utilities will be apprx around RM500K to RM1 Million depends on the location, specifications and interior design require by you inclusive the processing, preparation of documentation of all the licensing matter, consultation fee etc.

Yes, the share that approved by the government is 49/51. Local 51% and normally the share partner is a dentist practice as well but some of the cases not require a same profession to be a share partner. For example Funder. His a local and wanted to be your share partner as a funder. Therefore, if this is happening, you have to hire an agency or consultant to manage all the process and you need to get involve more deeper. If other way round happen,  it will be taking care by your same profession local share partner as he knows better what and how things plus will keep you posted. For you information,
To register a company, for Sdn Bhd which consists of 2 directors and above. It's not under individual as Enterprise Company, you need to hire a Company Secretary as to Register and taking care all the documentation, share holders, Certificate of Company etc with ROC.

The Company secretary you hired will also taking care any issue related to the ROC Dept. They will charge the your company in monthly basis. They are also eligible to do an annual audit for your company to be submitted to the government's tax dept. Or you may hire other agency to be your company auditor.
Other than doctorates licensing that need to be endorsed by Department of Health Malaysia,  you are require to apply a premises and business license from the State City Hall department base on their territory and state of your located premises.

If you are aim to open the dental practice for Corporate level which the location is in the high-rise building and located in the Capital city of KL, well the cost will increase up to 5 times from the above total cost.

OPTION
The other option that you have which is easier and also a normal practice in Malaysia is Buy Over the Company + Clinic that advertise for sale. No renovation cost, no instrument cost and less of hassle. You just require to manage the licensing and ROC things only BUT the risk is, you can't choose the area that you desire, you can't change the company name, just the name of Directors / Shareholders, you don't know the history and background of the company that you intend to buy. The good thing is you may getting ready customers instantly. So it's a win win situation.

Hope the info above may give you sort of lighten up the path. Wish you all the best. 

P/S: ROC is stand for Register Of Company Department - Owned by the government.

Many thanks Ardan for detailed answer. The prices for opening dental practice are as mach as in Moscow but the sharing part with 51% belonging to someone esle is the most difficult part to digest. .

I guess working in Malaysia is not very good idea for me.
Thank you guys for clearing this matter up.

Russian qualifications do not seem to be on the list of acceptable qualifications:

http://mdc.moh.gov.my/uploads/Section%2012%281%29.pdf

Your welcome Doc. At least the info I sharing in here may good for other expatriates that intend to open a business in Malaysia.
.
Great effort Gravitas. Extra info and knowledge for me  No wonder Dr. Rustam pull out the plug