Malaysia is facing a critical shortage of veterinarians. The Department of Veterinary Services recently revealed that the country has just over 2,500 active veterinarians, which falls far short of what’s needed to meet growing demand from livestock farms, research labs, and a booming pet care industry. This shortfall is more than just a numbers problem: it’s a question of national readiness in public health, food safety, and animal welfare. So what will it take to train, retain, and recognise a veterinary workforce, who play such a critical role in our food and health systems? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks with Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam, Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at Taylor’s University, former Director-General of the Department of Veterinary Services (2017-2020) and also the former President of Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations.
