DCI restructure to be proposed in parliament

India: The government will table the National Dental Commission Bill, 2022 in the upcoming session of the Parliament. The Bill seeks to set up a National Dental Commission (NDC) and repeal the Dentists Act, 1948.

“It is important to bring this particular NDC Bill in Parliament,” said Dr Mahesh Verma, vice-chancellor Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi.

“The role of NDC will be something very similar to what is being done currently by the Dental Council of India.”

Similar to previous restructuring 

According to Dr Verma, the government restructured the Medical Council of India (MCI) into National Medical Commission (NMC) about 30 months ago. 

“So, on similar lines, the Dental Commission of India (DCI) will be restructured into National Dental Commission (NDC),” he said.

“The restructuring of the DCI into NDC will be exactly similar to the conversion of the MCI into the NMC,” he added.

The purpose of the restructuring, Dr Verma stated, is to facilitate more nimble and effective decision-making processes. 

“There are representations of the state government, state universities and as state councils by rotation,” he added.

“This is to ensure that at any given point of time, there is a small body which can work cohesively rather than a huge one. 

“Currently, in the Dental Council of India, every state has a state nominee and so does state councils and universities. These nominees apart, there is also a nominee of the central governor.

“The intent behind the NDC is to be effective, efficient and take quick decisions.”

Mixed feedback

According to an unnamed source, the Bill is a ‘great move’ by the Union government.

“It will be (a) great move by the government to table the NDC Bill in Parliament. It has been pending for (too) long because of one reason or the other,” he said.

“Though the dental profession is not the first priority for the government, the need of the hour is to improve dental education and the quality of dental care for the common man. The coming of the NDC will be a huge step in that direction. 

“Two to three years back, they (Centre) introduced the NMC in the same way. Dental education needs better guidelines from the government and a better carrier for the students.”

He lamented on the state of India’s dental workforce and lack of career opportunities.

“Today, nobody seems willing to join dentistry because there are not enough jobs available. People are working for Rs 10,000- Rs 20,000 after spending so much money (on dental education) and they are not getting any jobs after passing out. 

“It is disheartening to see after 75 years of independence, this country still can’t provide good career opportunities in dentistry. This despite the fact that 95 per cent of our population do suffer from dental issues.”

Opposing the restructuring proposal, Dr JM Jeyaraj, MDS, consultant orthodontist from Coimbatore, said, “After getting the NDC Bill ready, the government lost faith in it and did not have the courage to table it in Parliament as it would not eradicate the wrongs. Though the Bill was listed to be tabled in the last three sessions of the Parliament, it wasn’t.”

“The Dentist Act, 1948 is definitely a better Act than the proposed NDC. The whole problem is turning a blind eye to corruption without asking the agencies to probe malpractice. It (is) the government’s own failing not to have notified proper members (of the DCI), as per the Act.”