{
  "id": 17408602,
  "title": "Dentists fume over new staircase rule for upstairs clinics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/dentists-fume-over-new-staircase-rule-for-upstairs-clinics-17408602",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T12:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/31/dentists-fume-over-new-staircase-rule-for-upstairs-clinics"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Private dentists have expressed frustration over a new health ministry regulation requiring minimum staircase widths of 1.1 meters for clinics on the first floor or upper floors of commercial buildings. The Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners Association has called for Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad to intervene in enforcement of the rule. The association argues that an evacuation drill demonstrated patient safety could be ensured even with staircases narrower than the stipulated width. The association contends that the ministry's control section imposed the regulation without considering structural limitations of older commercial buildings. They question why the health ministry is unilaterally imposing the rule, stating that building structural compliance and fire safety are the responsibilities of local authorities and relevant authorities. The dental association insists that regulations should be implemented with fairness and consideration of the circumstances surrounding existing premises.",
  "summary": "The Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners’ Association calls for intervention by health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, saying the regulation was adopted without considering the limitations of older buildings.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}