ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has extended the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme from four years to five years which will put an additional financial impact of up to Rs2.5 million on each private student.

The decision has triggered an allegation that it had been made to facilitate ‘dentists in uniform’ to allow them to work in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) has criticised the decision and demanded formation of a broad-based committee of members of the council in which subject specialists of Basic Medical and Dental Sciences should be included. It suggested to the PMDC reconsider the decision.

However, PMDC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj explained that the decision had been taken keeping in view the challenges faced by BDS graduates in securing training/jobs etc across the globe where five-year BDS transcript was required.

Pakistan Dental Association criticises decision, demands formation of a broad-based body

He said it shall be implemented from the 2024-25 session.

He said BDS course/structure in Pakistan shall be of five years including fifth year as clerkship year followed by one year structured house job/foundation year/internship.

He added that the additional year will allow students to gain a deeper theoretical understanding of dental sciences, improving the academic foundation required for excellence in the field.

With extended clinical training, students will be better prepared to handle real-world dental challenges with competence and confidence.

“This initiative will bring Pakistan’s dental education system in line with global standards, facilitating greater international recognition of Pakistani graduates.

This enhancement will equip graduates with advanced skills and knowledge, thus strengthening their competitiveness in both local and international healthcare sectors,” he said.

Dr Taj stated that comprehensive curriculum guidelines had been finalised by the council and would soon be shared with dental colleges.

“The PMDC is diligently collaborating with institutions nationwide to ensure the seamless implementation of the revised structure. This reform is a critical step towards cultivating highly skilled dental professionals capable of addressing the evolving demands of healthcare in Pakistan and beyond,” he added.

However, the decision has triggered a controversy that it had been taken at the behest of an institution.

“Fact is that Pakistani BDS graduates, on the basis of four years course, get admission and jobs across the globe especially in Europe and USA. However, recently Saudi Arabia has suggested that only dental surgeons who have cleared five years’ programme will be able to practice in the country. Pakistani BDS don’t get jobs in Saudi Arabia as their own graduates are meeting the requirement of the country.

“However, dentists in uniform are deputed there, but they will not be able to practice with the four-year degree. So the programme’s length has been increased for the whole country,” a faculty member wishing not to be named said.

According to minutes of a meeting (available with Dawn) of a four-member committee that made the decision, the meeting was chaired by Barrister Chaudhry Sultan Mansoor, member legal of the PMDC Council, and attended by Commandant Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry (AFID) Maj Gen Nadeem Ahmed Rana, Member Dental Services Army Dental Corps (GHQ) Brig Dr Amjad Ali and Member Academic Board of the PMDC Prof Dr Ghulam Rasool.

Besides, Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences Prof Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathore and Head of Preventive Dentistry AFID Dr Mohammad Omar Niaz attended the meeting on special invitation.

The decision has triggered criticism among stakeholders and PDA President Dr Khurshid Ahmed has written a letter to the PMDC president.

The letter stated, “It needs a lot of brain storming and due deliberation. The curriculum needs to be reviewed, infrastructure of colleges to be increased and faculty to be added. I will request you and the honourable members of the council to form a broad based committee in which subject specialties of Basic Medical and Dental Sciences, clinical dental subject are involved to revise the curriculum.”

“We at the platform of Pakistan Dental Association being stakeholders in dental profession are holding a seminar of all principals of dental colleges and senior private practitioners to put our recommendation for the above said subject.

“This is a matter of great importance and we appreciate your kind diligence into the matter, so that whatever decision is made may be acceptable to all. This matter has long standing consequence for the profession and no due deliberations were made by the council and no stakeholders were taken on board. I request your good offices to please consider my request favourably before taking any final decisions,” he stated.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Khurshid Ahmed said the major brunt will be faced by the students who will pay up to Rs2.5 million per year as they will have to pay one year’s additional fee.

“However, it has some more implications that additional teachers, buildings to house students, equipment, etc will be required as there will be one additional batch in the colleges. Moreover, PMDC has not decided if there will be some additional subjects or same syllabus will be taught in five years which was earlier being taught in four years. That kind of decisions are not taken in haste and a plan should be given that it will be implemented after 10 years or at least five years.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2024