R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, DEC 10
The health and family welfare department will soon launch mobile dental clinics in all the districts in the state, said Minister for Health and Family Welfare C. Vijayabaskar here on Tuesday.
Addressing the inauguration of the third global conclave of Academy of Dentistry International (ADI) in Chennai, the minister said that the dentists will be appointed at remotest hospitals, including non-taluk government hospitals, across the state, the decision announced in the Legislative Assembly will soon be implemented.
The minister said that 900 new posts, which will include 300 doctors and 600 paramedical staff, will soon be created through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) for each of the nine new medical colleges to be established in the state.
The state has also sought approval for four more medical colleges in Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Kancheepuram, and Ariyalur, the minister added.
Arguing that Tamil Nadu has remained a trend-setter in healthcare, the Minister said that the State has already achieved the goals set for 2030 for the health sector, as part of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) listed by the United Nations.
Create awareness on oral health among schoolstudents; OPS
Inaugurating the conference, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam made an appeal to ADI to work with Tamil Nadu government to create awareness on oral health among schoolstudents. He said that oral health was becoming a major challenge, particularly in India and South Asian countries, because of consumption of sugar and tobacco.
The conclave was hosted by the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences. Speaking at the conclave R.M. Veeraiyan, Chancellor of Institute said that with more than 3,200 published papers, 160 patents, and focus on quality and affordable healthcare, Saveetha Dental College was becoming a model institution.
Gerhard K. Seeberger, president, ADI, B. Rajkumar, president, India chapter, ADI, and Y. Bharath Shetty, acting president, Dental Council of India also spoke.
The conclave also observed the centenary of the beginning of dental practice in India by R. Ahmed, the Padma Bhushan awardee who is considered the father of Indian dentistry.
