Kuala Lumpur: India's Vinayaka Mission's University is preparing to introduce more health science courses at its Penang International Dental College (PIDC) campus in Malaysia.

Programmes like paramedical, pharmacy, physiotherapy, nursing and lab technicians will be added to the existing dental courses that are offered by the college, the university announced here.

"We are going to start health science courses in the same campus. Our courses are recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council and the JPA (Public Services Department).

"We expect more Malaysian students to join our college to pursue health science programmes," said the university's chief executive officer, S. Sharavanan.

Currently, the college offers a twinning programme where the initial two years of study of pre-clinical or basic science is done at the university's Salem campus in Tamil Nadu.

The students then pursue the final three-year clinical programme at the PIDC campus.

"PIDC leverages on the potential of the excellent Indian education system in line with Malaysia's high quality infrastructure standards.

"We strive to provide the right ambience for the students to take up dental study and health courses," Sharavanan told Bernama news agency. Around 200 Malaysians are currently studying at the Salem campus.

Vinayaka Mission's University conducts courses in a dozen countries, including Singapore and Thailand, largely specialising in medical studies, The New Straits Times said.