Srinagar, Mar 6 (KNS): The Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College & Hospital (GDC) Srinagar, in collaboration with the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, on Friday celebrated National Dentists’ Day by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to upgrade dental healthcare services at PHC Khaag in Budgam district.
The MoU aims to strengthen, upgrade and build capacity at the Dental Health Centre at PHC Khaag, which serves as a rural health training centre of GMC Srinagar as mandated by the National Medical Commission.
The initiative follows a meeting chaired by NITI Aayog member Dr Vinod K. Paul on September 30, 2025, which highlighted key challenges in dental healthcare services in Jammu and Kashmir, including rural-urban disparity, limited advanced dental care outside dental colleges and lack of training and capacity-building frameworks.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will work jointly to improve infrastructure and services at the Budgam dental centre, introduce structured training programmes for dental surgeons and auxiliary staff, and strengthen preventive dentistry and oral disease management in rural areas.
The collaboration will also focus on oral health awareness campaigns, screening camps in underserved areas of Budgam and joint epidemiological studies to assess the oral health burden in the district. A two-way referral mechanism will also be established between the Budgam centre and Government Dental College Srinagar for specialised treatment.
The MoU signing ceremony was held at the Principal/Dean’s chamber at Government Dental College & Hospital, Shireen Bagh Srinagar.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Speaking on the occasion, Principal GDC Srinagar Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Kaur Bali said the collaboration reflects the institution’s commitment to extending quality dental care to peripheral areas and upgrading the Budgam centre into a model healthcare facility.
Head of the Department of Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) S. Muhammad Salim Khan said the partnership integrates preventive community health strategies with specialised dental care and aims to empower local healthcare providers.
Head of the Department of Public Health Dentistry, GDC Srinagar, Dr Aasim Farooq Shah said the collaboration could serve as a model for strengthening dental healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the department is already running five peripheral centres in collaboration with GMC Baramulla and the Directorate of Health Services at CHC Tangmarg, PHC Sallar Anantnag, HC Fakir Gujri Srinagar, UHTC Bagi Islam Baramulla and RHTC Kalantra Baramulla.
He also said the department is running a tobacco cessation programme and has established two tobacco cessation clinics, including one at the University of Kashmir in collaboration with the University Health Centre.
The upgraded centre at PHC Khaag will be monitored by a joint coordination committee comprising faculty members from GMC Srinagar, GDC Srinagar and health officials posted at the centre.
Officials said the initiative aims to strengthen preventive dental care, reduce the burden of dental diseases and improve access to oral healthcare in rural areas.(KNS)