The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Dental Education Section has reached out to the J&K Health and Medical Education Department regarding the unemployment of dental surgeons, urging necessary action. This communication follows a letter dated 31-01-2023 from the Dental Surgeons Association Jammu and Kashmir, which highlighted the issue, prompting the ministry to request action from the Secretary H&ME Department J&K.
Despite a significant shortage of dentists in Jammu and Kashmir's hospitals over the past 15 years, there have been no appointments of dental surgeons, impacting oral healthcare services. The unemployed dental surgeons, who are graduates of dental colleges, have repeatedly appealed to the government for job creation.
Dr. Rahul Koul, President of the Dental Surgeons Association Jammu and Kashmir, pointed out the lack of dental surgeon posts created by the J&K Public Services Commission since 2008. Inadequate facilities and manpower in rural hospitals have adversely affected primary oral health care services.
The unemployed dental graduates and post-graduates, estimated to be over 10,000 BDS and 2,000 MDS students in J&K, face unemployment despite the shortage of dental surgeons. Many aspiring dental students are discouraged from pursuing dentistry due to job uncertainty.
Suggestions have been made to appoint dental surgeons and b-grade consultants to address the issue of unemployment. Public hospitals bear the burden of patient load due to costly oral health procedures in the private sector, leading patients to seek treatment from unqualified practitioners.
Norms stipulate a minimum of two dentists in Sub-District Hospitals and a dental surgeon and assistant in Primary Health Centers. A senior official of H&ME acknowledged the shortage of dental surgeons in hospitals and expressed the department's commitment to prioritize job creation and improve oral healthcare. Vacancies will be referred to recruitment agencies promptly.
