National Dental Commission Bill, 2023

The government recently introduced the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha.

About National Dental Commission Bill, 2023

The Bill seeks to repeal the Dentists Act, of 1948.

The bill also aims to make dental education affordable and make quality oral healthcare accessible.

It seeks to replace the Dental Council of India with the National Dental Commission (NDC).

National Dental Commission (NDC)

It will draft policies and maintain quality standards in dental education and the profession.

The new commission will also regulate fees for 50% seats in private dental colleges.

Composition

The composition of the NDC will be similar to that of the National Medical Commission (NMC), which had replaced the Medical Council of India.

The head office of the National Dental Commission shall be at New Delhi and it will consist of a chairperson; eight ex officio members and 24 part-time members.

They will be appointed by the central government.

Members of NMC, health ministry, AIIMS, New Delhi will be among the eight ex-officio members

Out of 24 part-time members, a total of 19 members will be appointed on rotational basis from amongst the nominees of the states and union territories for two years.

Other five members who will be appointed for four years will include two dental faculties from any central or state or autonomous government institutes.

Three members who have special knowledge and professional experience in areas including management, law, medical ethics, health research, consumer or patient rights advocacy, science and technology and economics.

Dental Advisory Council

Under the provisions of the bill, the central government will constitute an advisory body – the Dental Advisory Council.

The council will advise the commission and will also be the platform through which states and UTs will put forth their views.

It will also advise the Commission on measures to “enhance equitable access to dental education and uniform system of examination.”

The Bill will make provision for an exit test for dentists on the lines of the National Exit Test that is likely to be implemented for those completing MBBS.

India’s Healthcare Crisis : Addressing the Nursing Shortage

The Current Situation

India's healthcare professionals are severely under-resourced. According to official estimates, India currently has less than two nurses for every 1,000 people in the country.

This figure is far below the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended number of three nurses for every 1,000 people.

However, this figure is a conservative estimate, and the number of allied healthcare professionals needs to increase eight times to meet the country's needs over the next 25 years.

India's population is expected to reach 1.5 billion by 2030, which creates a massive demand for healthcare professionals.

The Skew in Nursing Education

More than 40% of nursing colleges in India are located in southern states such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which has created a significant skew in the distribution of nursing education.

This issue has been addressed to some extent by the allotment of new nursing colleges to Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

However, there is still a long way to go to ensure equitable distribution of nursing education for healthcare facilities across the country.

Skills to Be Taught

Increasing the number of nursing professionals is one part of addressing the healthcare crisis in India.

The other requirement is to equip these caregivers with the necessary skill sets required in a medical setup.

Medical setups throw up new challenges, and old problems remain unresolved. Proper communication training could help resolve the acrimony between patients and healthcare professionals.

The nursing cadre must also familiarize themselves with the rapidly changing technologies in medical care, which would help equip them to work autonomously.

Experts suggest that institutes in India currently do not provide nurses with adequate training to take up leadership positions.

The Indian nursing education curriculum needs to be revamped to achieve this, and continuous upskilling must be provided to maintain competency.

Improving Remittances and Revenue Generation

Migrant nurses, most of them from southern states, have been a significant source of remittance.

These professionals are in high demand in hospitals in Europe, the Americas, and West Asia.

Investing in nursing education will help enhance the revenue-generating capacity of potential migrants.

This will promote the emigration of highly skilled professionals, which would increase opportunities for Indian professionals outside the country.

Conclusion

The Indian government's decision to set up 157 new nursing colleges is a positive step in addressing the healthcare crisis in the country.

However, it is essential to ensure that the education imparted in these colleges is of high quality, and students have access to the latest technologies and trends in the field.

It is equally crucial to ensure that nursing professionals are given proper communication training, familiarised with rapidly changing technologies in medical care, and equipped to work autonomously.

Additionally, the upskilling of nurses to take on leadership positions must be done through continuous training.

The nursing curriculum in India needs to be revamped to ensure that it is in line with the latest healthcare trends and technologies.

Institutes should focus on providing theoretical and practical knowledge to nursing students, covering all aspects of healthcare, including geriatric care, pediatrics, and critical care.