Srinagar, Mar 20: For the first time, the health department Kashmir has conducted a gap analysis of dental care in all dental sections of hospitals to improve the services in the hospitals, officials said.
Dr Jehanzaib Tanki, Deputy Director Dentistry, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir said they had designated Nodal Officers in all districts for the gap analysis of rural hospitals.
“We have made a checklist of facilities as per the guidelines of the National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) at the health facilities. We are compiling the data of the gap analysis that will help better oral healthcare services and this is happening for the first time,” he said on the sidelines of a function held on World Oral Health Day at DHSK.
In the coming week, the directorate will hold a review meeting in this regard and discuss the lacunas and improvements to be made in the hospitals for dental care.
Tanki said 90 percent of the patient load is on the government hospitals in Kashmir due to lack of private health sector and oral healthcare is costly in the private sector.
“We have to strengthen District Hospitals, Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres. If compare with rest of the country, I think we are doing a good job and work done is also good,” he said.
As per the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, there are 303 dental surgeons serving in institutions in valley including in district hospitals, SDHs, PHC’s and NTPHCs.
Speaking regarding the shortage of dental surgeons in Kashmir, he said the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir has sent proposals to the Health and Medical Education Department and hopefully the government will do something about it.
People complain that due to the shortage of dental surgeons patients are compelled to visit hospitals located in far-off places and private clinics for consultation which is unaffordable for poor patients.
According to norms, there should be at least two dentists in a Sub-District Hospital and for a Primary Health Centre there must be a dental surgeon and an assistant.
