In a major reform aimed at improving the quality of dental education and aligning it with global standards, the Centre, in a first, constituted the National Dental Commission (NDC) along with three autonomous boards, replacing the Dental Council of India (DCI).
The commission will introduce essential and long-overdue regulatory reforms in dental education and enhance access to affordable oral healthcare across the country.
Dr. Sanjay Tewari will be the chairperson of NDC. To support the functioning of the commission, three autonomous bodies have been constituted.
The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board will oversee dental education, dental assessment, and a rating board has been formed to regulate accreditation and institutional assessment, and an ethics and dental registration board to govern professional conduct and registration of dentists.
The NDC will frame regulations to implement the provisions of the Act and conduct rating and assessment of dental institutions. The commission will evaluate human resources, promote dental research, and frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges. It will also be responsible for establishing standards for community dental care, education, research, and professional ethics.