“The Punjab Government is all set to launch Special programme to curb oral cancer in the state. If oral cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages, treatment is generally very effective.” This was disclosed by Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, Brahm Mohindra on the occasion of Annual Reorientation Session- 2018 held for Dental Medical Officers here today.Addressing on the occasion, Mr. Brahm Mohindra said that the Punjab Government has taken several initiatives to strengthen the health services as well as to eradicate the killer diseases like cancer and TB. He said that early diagnosis of oral cancer patients would decrease mortality rate and help in providing correct treatment. He said that this ‘Annual Orientation Session’ is a right platform to chalk out road map to curb the oral diseases.Giving information regarding recruitment of medical officers, the Minister said that about 306 medical officers will join health department within 15 days while 92 Rural Medical Officers will also join the health department. He said that our neighbouring States such as Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana had higher number of dental medical officers proportionate to their population and to fill this gap of vacancies in Punjab, the case regarding the recruitment of dentists at all Primary health Centres will be forwarded to the finance department.
The Health Minister said that the Senior Residency will also be introduced for dentists to make them eligible to enter the medical/ dental colleges. On the occasion, the dental association raised the issue of separate combined dental directorate under the Health & Medical Education department to promote the dental services to the next level.Keeping in mind the welfare of the PCMS dental cadre, the Health Minister announced that all the demands of dental medical officers have been approved and will be notified soon. These Demands included promotions for DDHOs, including dental materials in the essential drug list of the state, making dental materials more easily available to all the Dental OPDs in the state, collaboration with NGOs and MNCs for conducting oral health promotion activities and maintaining seniority of dental medical officers at par with medical officers.Mr. Brahm Mohindra also honoured the District Dental Health Officers and the teams of districts which have been especially active in oral health promotion activities during the Dental fortnights organized throughout the state.The Mission director NHM, Punjab Mr Amit Kumar, Dr Puneet Girdhar OSD to Health Minister and Joint Director (Dental) Medical Education, Director Health Services Dr Jaspal Kaur, Director Family Welfare Punjab Dr Naresh Kansra and Director ESI punjab Dr Jagpal Singh and Deputy Director Dental Dr Nirlep Kaur were also present on the ocassion.