Centre mulls a bridge course to allow dentists to practise as doctors
Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com
21.04.2019
Niti Aayog along with the health ministry is examining a proposal to create a cadre of mid-level health providers by allowing dentists to practise “family medicine/mainstream medicine” after a bridge course.
A meeting on this proposal is to be held at Niti Aayog on Monday. Referring to the minutes of a meeting held in the PMO on April 9 regarding “scaling up of medical education in India”, the notice issued on Wednesday for Monday’s meeting stated that in the PMO meeting it was “decided to explore the option of allowing dentists to practice family medicine/mainstream medicine following bridge course”.
The proposed meeting in Niti Aayog is “to discuss issues on leveraging dentists to provide primary health case thereby reducing the gaps in current shortfall of doctors.” The meeting will include the secretary general of the Dental Council of India (DCI) and the director general of dental services in the Armed Forces.
The proposal to allow dentists to practice as doctors after a bridge course had been floated over a year ago by the DCI with the Medical Council of India. It had argued that this was a feasible move that could benefit dentists and address the doctor shortage since the BDS and MBBS courses have a similar curriculum for the first three years. The Indian Medical Association had, however, opposed the idea.
Earlier, the Niti Aayog had proposed a bridge course for Ayush (ayurvedic, homeopathic, Siddha and Unani) doctors in the National Medical Commission Bill meant to replace the Indian Medical Council Act.
Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com
21.04.2019
Niti Aayog along with the health ministry is examining a proposal to create a cadre of mid-level health providers by allowing dentists to practise “family medicine/mainstream medicine” after a bridge course.
A meeting on this proposal is to be held at Niti Aayog on Monday. Referring to the minutes of a meeting held in the PMO on April 9 regarding “scaling up of medical education in India”, the notice issued on Wednesday for Monday’s meeting stated that in the PMO meeting it was “decided to explore the option of allowing dentists to practice family medicine/mainstream medicine following bridge course”.
The proposed meeting in Niti Aayog is “to discuss issues on leveraging dentists to provide primary health case thereby reducing the gaps in current shortfall of doctors.” The meeting will include the secretary general of the Dental Council of India (DCI) and the director general of dental services in the Armed Forces.
The proposal to allow dentists to practice as doctors after a bridge course had been floated over a year ago by the DCI with the Medical Council of India. It had argued that this was a feasible move that could benefit dentists and address the doctor shortage since the BDS and MBBS courses have a similar curriculum for the first three years. The Indian Medical Association had, however, opposed the idea.
Earlier, the Niti Aayog had proposed a bridge course for Ayush (ayurvedic, homeopathic, Siddha and Unani) doctors in the National Medical Commission Bill meant to replace the Indian Medical Council Act.
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