How to Set Up a Private Dental Clinic in Malaysia

A Step-by-Step 2026 Guide to Licensing, Registration and Launch

Malaysia’s dental sector has grown rapidly. As of 2025, 15,477 dentists held a valid Annual Practising Certificate, of whom 6,576 practise in the private sector nearly triple the figure a decade ago.

The public network runs to about 1,005 government dental clinics, while private clinics number in the thousands and remain concentrated in urban states such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

If you are a registered dental practitioner planning to open your own clinic, the path is well-defined but heavily regulated. This guide walks through each step from choosing a location to obtaining your Certificate of Registration and going live reflecting the rules and authorities in force in 2026.

Read This First — What Changed Recently

Before starting your private dental clinic setup, take note of the latest updates:

• The Dental Act 2018 has replaced the old Dental Act 1971. Your Annual Practising Certificate (APC) is now governed by it and applied for entirely online through the MHPS portal.
• From 1 January 2025, professional indemnity insurance and CPD points are mandatory before an APC can be renewed.
• A Sdn Bhd is registered under the Companies Act 2016, not the Registration of Business Act 1956, and is incorporated fully online via SSM’s MyCoID.
• X-ray equipment is licensed by the Department of Atomic Energy Malaysia, also known as Atom Malaysia, formerly AELB, under MOSTI not by the Ministry of Health.

Market at a Glance

Two snapshots of the sector you are entering – The Malaysian dental sector has continued to grow with more dentists moving into private practice.

• The dental workforce reached 15,477 in 2025.
• Private-sector dentists now make up about 42% of the total.
• There are around 1,005 government dental clinics nationwide.
• Private clinics remain concentrated in urban states such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

1. Choose the Right Location
Your premises can be rented or owned but location drives footfall and long-term viability. Before committing to a tenancy or purchase, consider the following:

i. Demographics:
Match the local income level, age profile and family size to your target patients.

ii. Competition:
Map nearby clinics, the services they offer and the gaps you could fill.

iii. Accessibility and Visibility:
Prioritise easy access, parking, public transport links and street-level visibility.

iv. Population Density and Growth:
A denser and growing catchment area means a larger potential patient base.

2. Register Your Company (Sdn Bhd)
Most clinics operate through a private limited company (Sdn Bhd) incorporated under the Companies Act 2016. You can set up your Sdn Bhd entirely online through bossboleh.com then open a company bank account in the company’s name.

3. Apply for a Signboard Licence from Your Local Council
Before installing your clinic signage obtain a signboard licence from the local authority for your area for example, MBPJ for Petaling Jaya or DBKL for Kuala Lumpur. Requirements vary slightly by council but you will generally need:

• A copy of the tenancy or purchase agreement for the premises.
• A location map of the business.
• Photographs of where the signboard will be places.
• A sample of the proposed signboard showing its design, dimensions and colours.

4. Understand the Regulatory Framewor
A private dental clinic is a licensed healthcare facility. 2 pieces of legislation govern it:

i. Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586) and its 2006 Regulations
– It’s 2006 Regulations MOH’s Cawangan Kawalan Perubatan Swasta (CKAPS) through each state health department (JKN)

ii. Dental Act 2018
– This governs the registration of dentists and the Annual Practising Certificate required to practise. (See Step 9)

5. Understand the Regulatory Framework

Registration of the premises starts with Borang A, the prescribed application form under Act 586. You may download it from the CKAPS website, or complete it by hand in block capitals using black ink and submit it to your state or federal-territory health department.

Borang A captures, broadly:

Part A — Clinic Details
Name (which must accurately describe the service and match the signboard), address, opening date, operating hours, services offered and practice type.

Part B — Applicant Details
Identification, qualifications and professional registration.

Part C — Partnership Details
This applies if the clinic is operated as a partnership.

Part D — Person-in-Charge
This refers to the Orang Yang Bertanggungjawab.

Part E — Other Details
Other details: staffing, registered practitioners, the floor plan drawn to 1:100 scale with full legends and room measurements, and financial particulars.

A processing fee of RM500 applies. Supporting documents must be certified true by a Commissioner for Oaths or a Grade A officer, with two certified copies of each. If your proposed layout is approved, CKAPS / JKN will issue a No Objection Letter, clearing you begin renovation.

6. Renovate to MOH Standards
Fit-out must comply with MOH requirements for private dental clinics. The build typically takes around three months; notify your JKN/WP in writing if you need an extension. Key areas:

i. Infrastructure
Appropriate room dimensions, door widths and emergency exits; a clearly defined reception, waiting area, consultation and treatment rooms.

ii. Documentation
Clinic policies and written procedures for patient registration, billing, infection control and grievance handling.

iii. Pharma
A dedicated, compliant space for storing and labelling medicines.

7. Pass the JKN/CKAPS Inspection
When the clinic is ready, notify the health department to schedule an inspection. Officers verify the premises against the approved plan and the regulatory standards. If everything is in order, your application is forwarded to CKAPS headquarters in Putrajaya.

8. CKAPS Evaluation and Certificate of Registration (Borang B)
CKAPS reviews the application usually within about four weeks. On approval, you will be invoiced a registration fee of RM1,000, payable by bank draft or money order to “Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia” (no cash or personal cheques). You then receive Borang B, your Certificate of Registration the document that legally permits the clinic to open.

9. Sort Out Your Annual Practising Certificate (APC)
Every practising dentist must hold a current APC under the Dental Act 2018, and a separate APC is required for each practising address, displayed prominently at each site (Section 42). Key points for 2026:

• Applications are now made entirely online through the Malaysian Healthcare Practitioners’ System (MHPS) as the manual-only process is gone.
• Mandatory since 1 January 2025: valid professional indemnity insurance and sufficient CPD points are prerequisites for renewal.
• Renew annually — submit the following year’s application to the Malaysian Dental Council by 1 November; a late fee applies after the deadline.
• Update your APC with the new clinic address once you open.

Fees are set by regulation and charged per practising address; confirm the current schedule on the MHPS portal, as these are periodically revised.

10. Licence Your Dental X-Ray Equipment
If your clinic uses X-ray equipment, you need a licence under the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (Act 304). This is issued by the Department of Atomic Energy (Atom Malaysia formerly the AELB) under the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation not the Ministry of Health. Dental X-ray apparatus falls under a Class C license. Confirm the current annual fee and application steps directly with Atom Malaysia as the schedule is set by the regulator.

11. Obtain an Advertising Licence

Before promoting the clinic, secure an advertising or business-promotion licence from your local council. For example, clinics located in Kuala Lumpur may need to refer to DBKL.

Note that healthcare advertising is also restricted under MOH rules and the Dental Act, so content must stay factual and within professional advertising guidelines. Approval timelines vary by council.

12. Hire and Register Your Team
Skilled support staff are central to a clinic’s efficiency. As an employer, you must register and contribute for each employee:

• EPF (KWSP) — retirement savings contributions
• SOCSO (PERKESO) — employment injury and invalidity coverage
• EIS (SIP) — Employment Insurance System contributions, administered by PERKESO
• Monthly Tax Deductions (PCB) — registered with LHDN

13. Set Up Medicine Procurement
You will need a valid APC to procure medicines for the clinic. Once it is in place, open accounts with licensed pharmaceutical suppliers. Depending on the medicines you stock and dispense, a Poisons Licence (for example, Type A) under the Poisons Act 1952 may also be required check with the state Pharmacy Enforcement Division.

14. Know the Regulated Patient Fee Schedule

Private clinics cannot set patient charges freely. Consultation, procedure and medical-report fees are capped by the Seventh Schedule of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (Private Medical Clinics or Private Dental Clinics) Regulations 2006 under Act 586.

That schedule was most recently revised by the Amendment of Fee Schedule Order 2026 (P.U. (A) 150/2026), which comes into force on 2 April 2026, updating the consultation, general-procedure and miscellaneous fee bands. Set your pricing within these limits, and review the current gazette including the items specific to dental services before finalising your fee list.

At a glance: Key fees and timelines

Government fees only: profesional, renovation and equipment costs are additional. Figures are indicative confirm current rates with each authority before budgeting.

Ready to open your doors
Setting up a private dental clinic in Malaysia is structured, multi-agency process incorporate the company, register the premises under Act 586, fit out to MOH standard, pass inspection, secure your APC under the Dental Act 2018, and license any X-ray equipment with Atom Malaysia. Done in the right order, each approval unlocks the next and the result is a clinic that is fully compliant from day one.