Speakers at Dental Workshop on Friday stressed on joint efforts of all stakeholders to improve dentistry education in Pakistan like period of undergraduate studies and amendments in curricula according to local needs. The workshop was organised by Dental News in collaboration with Fatima Jinnah Dental College (FJDC) and Karachi Medical and Dental College (KMDC) under the aegis of Health Asia-2005.
Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister for Local Government Waseem Akhtar was chief guest on the occasion.
Speaking at the ceremony, the adviser said the government was making its best to improve educational standard in the province despite all financial constraints.
"President Pervaiz Musharaf is also stressing on quality education. We are tying best not to repeat past mistakes," he added.
"Government is considering to ban the sale of gutka in Sindh and a note has also been moved to provincial cabinet for approval," he said.
Earlier, Project Director Health Asia, Dr Zakiuddin informed about the events being held in current year under the Health Asia.
"This year we are organising 25 conferences and workshops on various issues like neurology, telemedicine, digital radiology, health governance and complimentary medicine etc," he added.
"Health Asia is bringing a series of integrated models in presence of all stakeholders, including government," he said.
Chief Executive of FJDC Dr S Baqar Askari said it was the most crucial time for dentistry in Pakistan.
"It is facing problems, including period of undergraduate dental training, improvements in curricula to compete with international standards. All these problems can be solved only with joint efforts in right direction," he emphasised.
He said methods of teaching and examinations should also be modernised and policy be evolved to cope with the challenges.
Principal KMDC Dental Section, Dr Mehmood Haider said dentistry was progressing fast in Pakistan and there was room to do a lot with the passage of time.
Vice Chancellor Baqai Medical University General Dr Azhar (Rtd) said there was a bright future in this field in Pakistan having lot of scope.
"Teeth are important organ of our body. We need to stress on research to identify local problems and their solutions. Work should also be done in rural areas," he emphasised.
Syed Hashim Hasan of Medical News delivered vote of thanks.
Workshop was followed by two seminars on Restorative Dentistry and Orthodontics.