The practice of quack dentistry cannot be brought to a halt until the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) continues issuing certificates without proper evaluation of dentists.
The Sindh health minister stated this while addressing the inaugural session of the three-day 10th International and 30th National Dental Congress organised by the Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) at the Expo Centre.
The minister said that the bill for containing quackery has been awaiting approval of the Sindh chief minister for the last two years.
“I visited different clinics run by quack dentists in Saddar’s Empress Market where they showed me the PMDC’s certificate that they had obtained by greasing some palms,” the minister added.
Congratulating the organisers of the event, he said that the government has realised the significance of dentistry and is trying its level best to facilitate the underprivileged masses.
He said that the Sindh Health Department has taken up various health issues and is trying to get them resolved on priority basis.
The four-tier formula, which is being implemented, and the timescale promotion are some examples, he added.
He also said that there is no medical college in the public sector where the number of seats has not been increased.
Earlier, PDA Patron Dr Mahmood Shah said that the congress aimed at acquainting itself with modern research in the dentistry sector carried out across the world.
Shah said that the event is a great opportunity for budding dentists to interact with the foreign delegates.
More than 3,000 local and foreign delegates are expected to visit the congress, whereas 182 stalls are displayed in it, he added.
The theme of the congress is ‘A New Dental Era’, and Shah hoped that it would attract a large number of general practitioners, academicians and allied professionals.
He said that the congress consisted of state-of-the-art scientific sessions and hands-on workshops with leading international and national speakers confirming their participation.
After a gap of nearly six years, the PDA is organising this mega event in association with Dental News, with colleges onboard, he added.
He also said, “We intend to bring state-of-the-art knowledge and cutting edge dental technology under a single roof.”
Prominent, internationally recognised speakers from all fields of dentistry are invited to Pakistan for a three-day marathon of knowledge in a nutshell, he added.
He said that this congress would turn out to be an ideal forum to assess the dental needs of the upcoming generation.
There are more than 80 speakers in total, and trade with more than 180 stalls would be the largest of its type among all the dental events held in Pakistan, he added.
