KL Report
SRINAGAR
Society of Dental Surgeons, J&K (SDSJK) Saturday castigates the Govt for showing step motherly treatment towards the upgradation of dental fraternity and promotion of quality oral health care to the patients.
“The state of oral health services prevailing in state is under shambles which has led to various health hazards on which Govt seems to be in deep sleep,” said Dr Shujaat Ahmad, Vice President, SDSJK.
“It is worth astonishing that the Govt recently opened 371 New Type Primary Health Centres vide Govt. order no 585-HME of 214 dated 17/10/2014 with a creation of 371 Medical Officers but unfortunately no dental surgeon post has been created in these health centres.”
SDSJK stressed Govt and especially Minister for Health and Medical Education Choudhary Lal Singh and MoS Health Madam Asiya Naqash “to kindly intervene in the matter for immediate creation of 371 dental surgeon posts and simultaneously filling of existing vacant Dental Surgeon posts so that quality oral health is being provided to the needy patients.”
SDSJK also appeals the Govt that special consideration/quota for dental surgeon posts should be kept under recently framed New Recruitment Policy.
“We also appeal the Health Ministry to create posts of Dental Surgeon in National Health Mission (NHM) for outreach Oral Health Mission programmes and removal of pay anomaly of Dental Surgeons who are already working under NHM,” Dr Shujaat said.
It is worth condemning, he said, that only 500 plus sanctioned posts of dental surgeons are there for a huge 1.25 crore population of J&K which simply flaws the WHO Oral Health guidelines.
“As per the official survey held by a national organisation, every second Indian suffers from anoral problem which speaks of poor Oral Health in the community,” he said. “Moreover there has been rise in Oral Cancers and also spread of blood borne diseases due to illegal dental clinics and below par Dental Sections across state.”
Till the Govt is not serious in upgradation of dentistry across state, Dr Shujaat said, it is evident that there will be steep rise in life threatening diseases and poor oral health services.
“It is pertinent to mention here that there are more than 1500 unemployed dental surgeons in the state and the number is increasing every year,” he said.
