The practice of quack dentistry could not be brought to a halt until Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) continue issuing certificate without proper evaluation of dentists.
Sindh Health Minister stated this while addressing at an inaugural session of three-day 10th International and 30th National Dental Congress organized by Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) at Expo Center Karachi.
He said the bill for containing quackery has been awaiting approval of Sindh Chief Minister for last two years. “I visited to different clinics run by quack dentists in Empress Market Suddar Karachi, where they showed me the PMDC’s certificate which they obtained by greasing palms”, the minister told.
Congratulating the organizers of the event, he said the government realized the significance of dentistry and trying its level best to cater the need so as to facilitate poor masses. The Sindh Health Department has taken up various health issues and get resolved them on priority basis. The 4-tier formula, which is being implemented, and time scale promotion are some examples. In addition, there is no medical college is left at public sector where seats are not raised, he apprised.
Earlier, Patron PDA Mahmood Shah said the congress aimed at acquainting modern research, information in dentistry sector carried out across the world. The event is a great opportunity for budding dentists to interact with the foreign delegates.
More than 3000 local and foreign delegates are expected to visit to the congress while 182 stalls are displayed in it. The theme of the congress was ‘A New Dental Era.’ He hoped that it will attract a large number of general practitioners academicians and allied professionals.
The congress consisted of the state of the art scientific sessions and hands on workshops with leading international and national speakers confirming their participation. After a gap of nearly 6 years PDA is organizing this mega event in association with Dental News with colleges onboard.
“We intend to bring state of the art knowledge and cutting edge dental technology under a single roof” said Dr Shah. He said that internationally recognized prominent speakers from all fields of dentistry are invited to Pakistan for a three day marathon of knowledge in a nutshell. This Congress will 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 the trade with more than 180 stalls will be the largest of its type among at all the dental events held in Pakistan.
Chairman of the congress Prof Dr Naveed Rashid Qureshi, Secretary General Dr Kashif Ikram and Humayoon Farooq of Uni Liver also spoke. Later, the minister cut the ribbon of Dentistry exhibition.
Prof. Gunnar E Carlsson, Professor Emeritus Institute of Odontology The Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg Sweden, Dr. Omar Talal Hussain North Trent Rotation Specialist Trainee Registrar University of Sheffield Elected member of Council- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery United Kingdom, Austen SMITH Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial / Head & Neck / Reconstructive Surgeon, Sheffield & Barnsley Hospitals, University of Sheffield Elected member of Council- British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. United Kingdom, Afshin Yousefpour Consultant, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, North Trent Rotation England, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals UK, Pao- Topos Alcan Associate Professor Turkey, DR. Sabhlok Orthodontics Session Dubai, Hakki/Tanyerimr Implantology Session Turkey, Prof. Ayyaz Ali Khan Director / HOD, Oral Health Sciences Shaikh Zayed Lahore, Prof Dr Nazia Yazdanie Head Prosthodontics Department & Dean Post Graduate Studies Fatima Memorial College of Medicine & Dentistry Lahore, Dr. Arham Nawaz Chohan Associate Professor Head Paediatric Dentistry Institute of Dentistry CMH Lahore Medical College Lahore, Prof. Dr. Anser Maxood Head of Paediatric Dentistry Children Hospital PIMS ISLAMABAD, Dr. Asif Shah Head of Department of Prosthodontics De’Montmorency College of Dentistry LAHORE, Dr. Fazl-e-Ghani Head of Department of Prosthodontics Khyber College of Dentistry Peshawar and Prof Riaz Warriach Lahore KEMC Lahore.