Dentistry is not any extra about extraction of a tooth, or filling the dental cavities. That is now a multifaceted science that features the power to talk, smile, scent, style, contact, chew, and swallow. Dental and oral well being helps to convey a variety of feelings by means of facial expressions with confidence and with out ache. Trendy dentistry is a science of follow and analysis directed to facilitating wholesome growth of dentition, jaws and dento- facial constructions. It’s associated to prevention of not solely dental ailments however all of the oral ailments plus promotion of higher oral well being. Dentistry these days entails numerous diagnostic assessments, investigations and procedures to resolve the traditional and irregular state of oral well being particularly associated to tooth, gums, jaws and the encircling tissues. There are many specialised procedures in dental science that assist not solely in prevention of dental ailments but additionally provides to facial seems to be of an individual.
With the callous angle of all of the earlier Authorities’s in Jammu & Kashmir in direction of dentistry, and never having a transparent coverage or imaginative and prescient for taking fashionable dental science to poor and deprived communities in J&Okay, it’s hoped that the current Authorities headed by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha will view this difficulty severely. Authorities of Jammu & Kashmir might have utilized companies of a whole lot of certified dental graduates (BDS) and publish graduates (MDS) in addressing dental well being issues, however that hasn’t been accomplished despite the truth that nationwide flagship programme, the Nationwide Well being Mission (NHM) earlier known as NRHM continues to be in operation for final greater than 15 years. The detached angle of the federal government has now pressured these certified individuals to come back to the streets.
As per the norms set by World Well being Group (WHO) there must be one certified dentist for 7500 inhabitants. In Jammu & Kashmir now we have one certified dentist for a inhabitants of 28000 individuals. When this writer raised the identical difficulty with Muzaffar Hussain Baigh in 2004, when he was Finance Minister of J&Okay, Mr Baigh informed me that “Kashmir America nahi hai”. That is the angle of our flesh pressers and officers on the helm in direction of dentistry. Throughout that point, I together with a bunch of recent dental graduates had been combating for creation of 350 posts of dental surgeons which in actual fact turned a actuality after our sustained battle for 2-3 years.
Prof (Dr) H U Malik, President Indian Dental Affiliation (IDA) J&Okay state department, who is way captivated with dentistry and dental fraternity was a fantastic information and help for us throughout these days as effectively. We used to have common conferences with him in his clinic at Jahangir Chowk Srinagar. Dental surgeons throughout J&Okay cherish his activism and enthusiasm for the neighborhood. Dr Malik continues his dental activism even now when most of his colleagues want to not even transfer out of their homes.
The Authorities has to have greater than 1700 certified dentists in J&Okay to cater to the wants of 1.30 crore inhabitants however as of now there are solely 543 such posts obtainable with the Authorities in its numerous well being establishments. The Govt of J&Okay can simply accommodate 1000 certified dentists to fulfill the necessities as mandated by WHO.
NRHM, NHM and Dental well being
The Nationwide Rural Well being Mission (NRHM) was launched on April 12th 2005 which was named as Nationwide Well being Mission (NHM) in 2012 was not useful to counter oro dental ailments. The Authorities introduced Unani, Ayurvedic and different Indian System of Medication beneath these flagship programmes however the certified dental graduates or ancillary workers (dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental mechanics) had been by no means given any desire. Sadly many ISM docs hardly follow Unani or Ayurvedic drugs and as an alternative prescribe allopathic medicines to sufferers. That is by no means being observed. Then again, the certified dental surgeons who might have given their greatest service to individuals in far off locations had been left to God’s mercy. They weren’t deemed match for an NRHM job by Govt. The entry to dental companies has not improved a lot within the final 20 years because it ought to have. The provisions for bettering oral and dental well being companies have principally been utilized in a restricted means by some states solely resulting in general lack of assured oral well being care companies each in rural and concrete areas.
Nationwide Oral Well being Programme
On account of excessive prevalence of oro-dental illness in India , the oro-dental ailments are a public well being drawback which have super affect on the systemic well being. Poor oral well being results in poor aesthetics, impacts mastication adversely, causes agonizing ache and may result in lack of productiveness as a result of lack of man-hours.
The Nationwide Oral Well being Programme (NOHP) was launched throughout 2014 – 15 to strengthen the general public well being services of the nation for an accessible, reasonably priced & high quality oral well being care supply.
The targets of this coverage are
1.Enchancment within the determinants of oral well being e.g. nutritious diet, oral hygiene enchancment and so forth and to cut back disparity in oral well being accessibility in rural & city inhabitants.
2. Scale back morbidity from oral ailments by strengthening oral well being companies at Sub district/district hospital to start out with.
3. Combine oral well being promotion and preventive companies with the final well being care system and different sectors that affect oral well being; particularly numerous Nationwide Well being Packages.
4. Promotion of Public Personal Partnerships (PPP) for reaching public well being purpose
Underneath this programme a help is supplied to States and UT’s to arrange Dental Care Items at District Hospitals or beneath.
Creation of posts
Up to now the Well being and Medical Schooling Division had despatched some proposals to the Finance Division for filling up vacant posts of Dental Surgeons. It has been rejected in view of big monetary implications which signifies dentistry just isn’t a precedence well being difficulty for the Authorities. That is irritating round 7000 certified dentists in J&Okay, lots of whom have been protesting in opposition to the Govt for the final some weeks in Jammu beneath the banner of Dental Surgeons Affiliation J&Okay. These protesting dentists demand that Govt should create recent posts of dental surgeons in J&Okay and in addition regulate them beneath numerous Govt schemes like Nationwide Well being Mission (NHM) and so forth. Whereas speaking to the media lately president of Dental Surgeons Affiliation J&Okay Dr Javid Iqbal Chowdhary mentioned that their agitation will proceed as Govt has not created any posts for them for the final a few years. It’s ironic that within the final 13 years not even a single dental surgeon has been appointed by J&Okay Public Service Fee (PSC). If new posts are created for Unani , Ayurvedic docs or Veterinary docs why not create posts of dental surgeons? Majority of medical docs are absorbed in Govt after they full their medical diploma however in case of BDS graduates not even 20 % of them make it to Govt departments. That is sheer injustice. For beginning a personal dental clinic, a number of funding is required. It’s tough for a lot of dental graduates to start out non-public follow. In 2019 a proposal for creation of 273 posts of dental surgeons was despatched to Govt by Director well being companies Jammu however that too was not given monetary concurrence.
Conclusion
I enchantment to Further Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo who can also be the executive secretary well being and medical schooling, to look into the problem with a human coronary heart. Not less than 500 to 600 new posts of dental surgeons should be created quickly. Along with it a coverage be adopted for different unemployed dental surgeons, dental technicians and dental hygienists and so forth. Govt can make the most of their companies beneath public non-public partnership (PPP) additionally, which must be explored…
