Experts claim that seeking a job or a promising career in dentistry is very challenging in India because of various reasons, which is putting dentists' career at stake and making patients devoid of dental services
While India churns out as many as 30,000 dentists annually, the dental surgeon-to-patient ratio continues to be languish at a dismal 1:8,018.48, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is estimated that there will be more than 1 lakh dentists in India by 2020 but ensuring availability of dentists to the overall population (urban and rural) continues to be a challenge for Union Health Ministry.
"India has 310 dental colleges and most of these colleges are in the private sector. Despite the fact that there are so many dentists, the doctor-patient ratio is not satisfactory because most of the dentists are concentrated in urban areas for private practice as there are meagre opportunities in the government sector," said Dr AK Chandna, member, Dental Council of India (DCI).
"We have asked the government not to open any new dental colleges because there are already many dentists without jobs. We have also written to the Union Health Ministry and State Chief Ministers that if they are giving approval of increase in seats, or opening of a new dental college, they should also ensure jobs to the students after completion of studies. Also, equally distribute the jobs geographically, so that there are enough dentists for all the areas may it rural or urban," he said.
Experts claim that seeking a job or a promising career in dentistry is very challenging in India because of various reasons, which is putting dentists' career at stake and making patients devoid of dental services. "The options available to a graduate are either opening up a dental clinic which requires a huge investment, or pursuing post graduation which is difficult with only 3,000 seats available. The government sector has very few posts available for dentists as only 5 per cent graduate dentists are employed in the government sector," said Dr Kamal Shigli, Vice Principal, Professor and Head, Department Of Prosthodontics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College and Hospital, Sangli.
The dental experts are eyeing the National Oral Health Policy which is expected to create jobs for dentists as Union Health Ministry is working on a dedicated Oral Health Program. "Dentists could be employed in every government healthcare facility. Government and Dental Council should be serious about National oral health policy formulation and allotment of funds to implement these policies," said Dr Shigli.
"National oral healthcare programmes could improve employment opportunities in urban and rural areas alike for creating awareness and treatment of patients. Also government funded oral health research agency could employ dentists. Only well established postgraduate dental institutes with adequate infrastructure, sufficient patient inflow, research facility and dedicated full-time faculty should survive," she said.
Government has realised that oral diseases are becoming leading health problems and are attributed mainly to rapidly changing lifestyles, widespread use of tobacco and increased consumption of alcohol.
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