HYDERABAD: The Dental Council of India (DCI) is proposing to go for a centralised registry akin to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for dentists across the country. The registry would be having separate sections, indicating in which States the dental professionals are currently registered and practising.
Prior to that, there is also a move to make it mandatory for dentists to register themselves in States where they are practising for better regulatory control. The issue has come to the fore after just 90 dentists registered for the soon to be formed Telangana State Dental Council (TSDC).
The new Council was necessitated after the State bifurcation and a tribunal formed to oversee the registration process got very poor response by last date of December-end although senior dentists indicate that the number could be 5,000 and more in Hyderabad and rest of TS (undivided A.P 22,000 approx).
Registration compulsory
“Registration is important because in case of any complaint and if a dentist is not registered in a State Council, he/she is considered as an unregistered practitioner,” they explain.
While change in addresses and mobile numbers have been hindrances in contacting the practising dentists apart from lack of awareness, fact also is the DCI has never been confronted with a such situation where such a large number of dentists have to be registered afresh. If obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from APSDC on clearing pending dues was tardy, these got piled up at DCI level too due to lack of follow-up.
“The A.P. State Dental Council too has been non-cooperative. They refused to share the membership list and also the funds accrued over the years. It is now operating from Vijayawada and all we are left with is a room donated by the Government Dental College, a table and chair,” lament senior dentists, wishing to remain anonymous.
Fresh registration
In this scenario, the Indian Dental Association (IDA) has offered to aid the tribunal in registrations. “We held a meeting today and decided to help the tribunal in establishing online registrations and spread awareness among our fellow practitioners,” says A. Srikanth, secretary (Deccan branch). A fresh date for registrations is also to be announced soon. After a substantial number register and membership is available online, the tribunal would approach the Government for holding elections for office bearers of the new council.
