The Indian government has unveiled the National Dental Commission Rules, 2024. The rules aim to reform dental education and promote dental healthcare across the country.
These rules have come into force from March 13, 2024. They seek to address various aspects of dental education and regulation. One significant provision involves the nomination of members to the Dental Advisory Council in states or union territories lacking Government Dental Colleges. In such cases, individuals with post-graduate degrees in dental sciences, registration with the National or State Register, and at least fifteen years of experience in the field will be appointed to the council.
Furthermore, the National Dental Commission is empowered with additional responsibilities beyond those outlined in section 10 of the regulations. These include conducting studies to reduce the cost of dental education and recommending strategies such as modern technology adoption and faculty sharing. The Commission will also oversee appeals against decisions made by dental boards, ensuring transparency and fairness in the process.
Crucially, the Commission is tasked with formulating regulations in consultation with state governments, union territory administrations, dental professionals’ associations, and other stakeholders. Draft regulations will be made available for public scrutiny on the Commission’s website for a period of thirty days, during which objections and suggestions will be considered. Additionally, the Legislative Department in the Ministry of Law and Justice will review the final draft regulations through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
To promote transparency, major decisions made by the Commission will be endorsed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and published on the Commission’s website. Moreover, the Commission will provide necessary information or reports to the Central Government as required, ensuring accountability and effective communication between regulatory bodies and policymakers.
