BDS Graduates to Train as Family Doctors: DCI Proposal

The Dental Council of India (DCI) has put forward a proposal to bridge the gap in doctor shortages in rural areas. The initiative calls for employing Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) graduates to train as family doctors and provide primary healthcare services in communities across the nation.

The Apex Commission regulating dental education in India has suggested providing training to such dentists for a period of six months to one year and after completion of training, certifying them as family doctors. Apart from this, the Council has also submitted its suggestions to the Union Government for attracting more foreign students to pursue dental courses.

Dr.Dibyendu Mazumdar, the respected President of DCI, shared the information regarding this proposal during his address at a three-day national conference by the Aesthetic Dentistry Association of India. This conference was organized for the first time by the Aesthetic Dentistry Association of India in association with AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences at Derlakatte, Mangaluru.

Due to increased MBBS seats in the last few years, there has been a significant reduction in the number of BDS admissions across the country. Another reason for the decrease in the number of foreign students opting for BDS admissions in India has been cited as the implementation of NEET examinations.

Another proposal by the DCI to the Union Government is to sign MoUs with different countries in order to increase the inflow of foreign admissions. Such MoUs will allow these students to get admission to dental colleges in India without having to give the NEET examinations, which will be mandatory for Indian students. A reservation of 10% seats for foreign students has also been proposed.

Another suggestion by the DCI is to make NEET centers available globally. This will help the students abroad to pursue their interest in studying medical and dental courses in India.

Dr.Majumdar also mentioned the suggestions and plans for the NExT examinations which are supposed to replace NEET-PG examinations very soon. There is a proposal of conducting two tests for dental courses as well out of which one would be during the final dental examinations and another one after the completion of the internship.

Source: The Times of India.