Hyderabad: The bridge course for dentists and Ayush doctors is set to allow cross-pathy in the country. However, allopathic doctors are of the opinion that the move would put the lives of people at risk. With the Dental Council of India being included in the proposal to provide mid-level healthcare, the Indian Medical Association argues that such moves will prove futile in the long run as they might put people’s lives at risk.

A large number of seats are lying vacant in private dental colleges due to the scarcity of applicants. Dr K. K. Aggarwal, President-elect, the Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania, stated, “The bridge course comes as a lifeline for private dental colleges and enables dentists to practice as general physicians. The World Health Organization has found the global dentist to population ratio to be 1:7500. In India, the ratio is currently holding at 1:8000. Further, the majority of this dentist population is concentrated in urban areas, while in rural areas, there is, on an average, only 1 dentist for every 50,000 people.”

Dr Narsinga Reddy, senior member of the IMA, Hyderabad, stated that the government has been trying to introduce alternative courses to bridge the gap. However, the real focus should be on improving rural healthcare. Shortcuts are not going to help. They will put the rural population at risk, he explained.

The current shortfall of 6,00,000 doctors cannot be met by introducing bridge courses. Policy intervention is needed in terms of reinforcing the public health centres with qualified general physicians to provide the required care. (Deccan Chronicle)