How to check a clinic or doctor is registered in Malaysia

In Malaysia, private clinics and hospitals must be licensed or registered by the Ministry of Health under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586). Doctors are checked on the Malaysian Medical Council’s MeRITS register (merits.mmc.gov.my) and specialists on the National Specialist Register. Dentists fall under the Malaysian Dental Council, allied health staff such as physiotherapists under MAHPC, TCM and chiropractic under the T&CM Council, and counsellors under Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia. Ask for the registration number and a current practising certificate.

Last updated 31 October 2026

Quick reference: who regulates whom

What you are checking	Regulator and law	Where to check
Hospital, clinic or aesthetic centre (premises)	MOH, Medical Practice Division and CKAPS, Act 586	Certificate displayed on premises; ask CKAPS or the state health department
Doctor (general)	Malaysian Medical Council (MMC)	MeRITS – Search Registered Doctor
Specialist	MMC, National Specialist Register (NSR)	MMC specialist registration page and nsr.org.my
Aesthetic doctor	MOH, Letter of Credentialing and Privileging (LCP)	Ask to see the LCP; MOH portal MedPCs handles clinic registration
Dentist	Malaysian Dental Council (MDC), Dental Act 2018	mdc.moh.gov.my and the MHPS portal
Physiotherapist, occupational therapist and other allied health	MAHPC, Allied Health Professions Act 2016	MAHPC and the MHPS portal
TCM and chiropractic practitioner	T&CM Council, Act 775	T&CM Division, hq.moh.gov.my/tcm
Counsellor	Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia (LKM), Counsellors Act 1998	LKM; ask for the registration (KB) and practising certificate (PA) numbers

Public search tools vary by council and change over time. We confirmed that MeRITS offers a public doctor search. For the other bodies, if no online search works, ask the practitioner for the registration number and current practising certificate, then confirm by email or phone with the council.

Hospitals and clinics (premises licence)

Under Act 586, private clinics and hospitals must be registered or licensed with the Ministry of Health, and operating without a licence is an offence. Licences are renewed through MOH’s online system, so a valid certificate should be current.
Look for the certificate of registration or licence displayed at the premises, and note the registered name and address.
Ask the clinic for its registration or licence number. If in doubt, contact the state health department or MOH’s Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS).
Hospitals are also assessed by independent accreditors. Check MSQH’s accredited-facilities directory, and the Joint Commission International (JCI) site, rather than relying on the hospital’s own marketing.

Doctors, specialists and aesthetic doctors

Search the doctor’s name on MeRITS. The MMC has warned that the title “Doctor” alone does not entitle anyone to practise medicine in Malaysia.
For a specialist, check the National Specialist Register. Only practitioners on the register may practise in their registered specialty.
For aesthetic procedures, MOH has taken action against unregistered centres and unlicensed practitioners. Ask the clinic for its MOH registration and the treating doctor’s LCP for aesthetic medicine, and confirm the doctor is on MeRITS.
Ask who will perform the procedure. It should be a registered doctor, not an unregistered therapist.

Dentists, allied health, TCM, chiropractic and counsellors

Dentists: must be registered with the Malaysian Dental Council and hold a current annual practising certificate (APC). Orthodontists and other dental specialists should be on the MDC’s specialist register.
Physiotherapists and other allied health practitioners: must register with MAHPC under the Allied Health Professions Act 2016. MAHPC extended the registration and APC transition deadline to December 2026, so some practitioners may still be completing the process; ask for their registration number and APC status.
TCM and chiropractors: chiropractic and TCM are recognised practice areas under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775). Practitioners in recognised areas are required to register with the T&CM Council.
Counsellors: the title “registered counsellor” is protected under the Counsellors Act 1998; ask for the registration and practising certificate numbers. Clinical psychologists are generally regulated as allied health practitioners, so ask which council they are registered with.

Red flags

No registration or licence number on request, or a number that the council cannot match to the name.
Only a foreign qualification or a certificate from a private training provider is shown.
Invasive procedures (injectables, threads, lasers) offered in a beauty salon or at someone’s home.
Pressure to prepay for a long package, or guarantees of results. Healthcare advertising rules prohibit outcome guarantees.
The practitioner or clinic will not give an itemised written quote.

If you suspect an unlicensed facility or practitioner, you can report it to the Ministry of Health or the relevant council.

FAQ

How do I check if a doctor is registered in Malaysia?

Search the doctor’s name on the Malaysian Medical Council’s MeRITS portal (merits.mmc.gov.my), using Search Registered Doctor. The MMC says the title “Doctor” alone does not entitle someone to practise.

How do I check if a doctor is a registered specialist in Malaysia?

Check the MMC’s National Specialist Register (NSR). Only practitioners on the register may practise in their registered specialty. Ask the doctor which specialty and qualification they are registered under.

How do I know if a clinic is licensed by the Ministry of Health?

Private clinics must be registered under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. Look for the certificate on the premises, ask for the licence number and confirm with CKAPS or the state health department.

How can I check if an aesthetic clinic or doctor is legal in Malaysia?

Ask for the clinic’s MOH registration and the doctor’s LCP for aesthetic medicine, and confirm the doctor on MeRITS. Be cautious of injectables or lasers offered in salons or by unregistered staff.

How do I check if a dentist, physiotherapist or counsellor is registered?

Dentists register with the Malaysian Dental Council, physiotherapists with MAHPC and counsellors with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia. Ask for the registration number and current practising certificate, then verify with the council.

Are TCM practitioners and chiropractors regulated in Malaysia?

Yes. TCM and chiropractic are recognised practice areas under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016, and practitioners in those areas are required to register with the T&CM Council. Ask for their registration details.

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Sources

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Prices are typical market ranges and change often; always ask the provider for a written estimate.