Centre sets up National Dental Commission, replaces Dental Council of India

The Union government has set up the National Dental Commission with three autonomous boards, replacing the Dental Council of India, aiming to improve transparency, quality and accountability in dental education and expand access to affordable oral healthcare.

New Delhi: In a major reform aimed at improving the quality of dental education in the country, the Union government has constituted a National Dental Commission (NDC) with three autonomous boards, replacing the Dental Council of India (DCI).

The developments were notified on March 19, making the new framework operational from the same date.

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The reform marks a decisive shift towards a regulatory framework that is transparent, quality-driven, and accountable, replacing the earlier elected structure, the Union Health Ministry said.

“The Commission will introduce essential and long-overdue regulatory reforms in dental education, and enhance access to affordable oral healthcare across the country,” it said in a statement.

The commission will have as board members distinguished professionals.

The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board will oversee dental education, while the Dental Assessment and Rating Board will regulate accreditation and institutional assessment.

The Ethics and Dental Registration Board will govern professional conduct and registration of dentists.

Dr Sanjay Tewari has been appointed as the chairperson of the NDC.

The commission will frame regulations to implement the provisions of the Act and also conduct rating and assessment of dental institutions.

It will evaluate human resources and promote dental research, frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges and establish standards for community dental care, education, research, and professional ethics.

With the NDC coming into force, the Dentists Act, 1948, stands repealed, and the Dental Council of India dissolved.