Talking Point: Should dentists be allowed to render primary healthcare

The government has proposed to allow dental graduates to serve the rural and semi-urban areas as MBBS doctors, on completion of a 3-year bridge course. Education Times talks to stakeholders to find out if the proposed move could address the shortage of skilled doctors in the rural sector
Need better incentives for MBBS doctors
The question of whether dentists should be trained to serve as medical practitioners in the rural sector is a classic case of mixing the apple with the pear.It is better to leave dentists to their jobs and not expect them to fill in for MBBS doctors. The disproportaionate ratio of doctors to patients in the rural sector can be addressed by providing more monetary incentives and better working conditions and infrastructure in the villages. This would help to attract and retain the best MBBS talent. A dentist may not know how to treat dengue, malaria or tuberculosis which are common ailments in the villages since their expertise lies in treating teeth-related conditions. Partial knowledge in the field of medicine can prove hazardous specially since it is a case of human lives.
— Dr Anoop Mishra, executive-chairman, Fortis C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology
Dentists can do justice
The value of a bridge course should not be undermined in any way. Everywhere in the world, dentists undergo a three-year bridge course to be called a full-fledged medical practitioner. If one were to look at the BDS course, the first, second and third years include six subjects which are common to both BDS and MBBS programmes. A short six month bridge course is pointless but if it is of three years’ duration, the course will cover the remaining MBBS syllabus and enable dentists to practice in the villages. Questioning their calibre and merit does not make sense. The government while providing them the opportunity also needs to focus on offering better facilities in the rural sector where migration of labour have made these regions underdeveloped.
— Dr Dhirendra Srivastava, dean, ESIC Dental College, Rohini, Delhi
Short-term training to prepare dentists
The proposal to get dentists to undergo a three years bridge course practically has no meaning and could be a wastage of time since this is an age of specialisation. Looking at the government’s concern, it can post the dentists after providing a short one year or 3-6 months’ training. Dental students learn 50% of the subjects taught in an MBBS course. Microbiology, pathology, general medicine and surgery are the common subjects which are also taught in a BDS course. So a short course for dental graduates should suffice.
— Dr Jaya Chauhan, practicing dentist, Pune
Dentists can work at the grassroots
It is okay for dentists to serve in the rural sector as long as they do not treat patients in need of hospitalisation and critical care. India is a huge country with a deficit of MBBS doctors, hence this proposal can help address the skill gap. With the bridge course and the right qualifying exams, dentists should be able to serve in the villages and do fairly well. Presently, a lot of quacks are thriving in the villages. In any case, MBBS doctors are more inclined to secure jobs in the cities, hence sending dentists to serve in the villages will not jeopardise their prospects in any way. The patient to doctor ratio in the villages needs to improve, hence this proposal could help solve problems at the grassroots.
— Abel Joseph, MBBS, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences