India has just
emerged as the third most affected country in the world. Covid 19 has a
remarkable recovery rate and the Government is doing a decent job of containing
the epidemic. Experts say the worst is yet to come and the soft underbelly of our
health system is likely to be exposed when our health infrastructure and our
already burdened doctors and nurses can no longer cope.
It is time to bring in more manpower from allied health care
professions. I am not sure of the indigenous
systems whose concepts of therapeutics and pathology of diseases are quite different from
that of modern medicine. But professionals trained in dentistry and who have a
common pathway of training like physicians should certainly be mobilised. Amongst
them, maxillofacial surgeons, with extensive hospital and ICU familiarity can
certainly amplify the manpower requirements.
Many cities are already reeling under the lack of medical personnel
to deal with the number of patients requiring critical care. Even hospitals
with adequate infrastructure are unable to function for want of man power.
India has a serious anomaly where we have a deficient doctor
patient ratio for medical doctors whereas we have an enormous surplus of
dentists, due to poor manpower planning and business interests a decade and a
half ago. So here is our opportunity to deploy hospital based dental or
maxillofacial surgeons.
In fact some cities have already called up eminent maxillofacial
surgeons and some like Dr Neelam Andrade, a maxillofacial surgeon and Dean of
Nair hospital has been appointed head of one of the biggest dedicated Covid
hospitals in the world in Mumbai. The
NESCO jumbo facility which has a projected capacity of 3000 units has 1171 fully
furnished beds with bedside oxygen, advanced monitoring and resuscitation
equipment. It also has an impeccable, 0 mortality. Dr Andrade, who also happens
to be a friend and professional colleague, directs the logistics of managing
the facility, from the control room and on the ground. This includes non-
contact triaging, computerized tracking and ensuring the safety of 62 doctors,
87 nurses and 103 ward boys and includes,
pulmonologists, intensive care physicians, dental and maxillofacial surgeons
and doctors from various other indigenous systems. We are proud of the
outstanding contribution of Dr Neelam, one of our fraternity, a dynamic woman
and a past president, who heads this operation.
While Universities like RGUHS and some other universities
have given Interns, PGs and staff an option, we need greater mobilization. So
why are so few dental surgeons, particularly OMFS not deployed for COVID duty
at this crucial time? India currently has nearly 10-15000 registered OMFS with
dental background. The DCI has nearly 400,000 dentists registered in its
various state registers. Many young men
and women are enrolled for post -graduation while others are in private or
government practice. The government must seriously consider deploying them in
this emergency. The DCI must make a firm commitment in this time of need. The
majority of them are currently sitting at home, allowing their skills to be
wasted, waiting out the pandemic, while thousand are seriously sick around the
country. As a first step, the oral and maxillofacial surgeons who are trained
in administering intravenous drugs, monitoring vitals and capable of several
bedside procedures must be mobilised. Other dental surgeons, particularly
hospital based ones, can follow and contribute with their medical knowledge,
particularly if they are not engaged in active work.
While several State governments have compulsorily enrolled
the services of their staff, many private dental institutions remain closed
with their staff safely ensconced in their homes delivering and listening to
webinars and online symposiums.
The Association of Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and the
Dental Council of India must encourage the members in private institutions and even
private practice to join the endeavour against Covid 19 by calling for volunteers
and even compulsorily deploying post graduates and junior staff of OMFS to be a
part of the war against the deadly pandemic. Apart from being a corporate responsibility
social responsibility, this will bring dignity and recognition to the profession
by standing shoulder to shoulder with our medical colleagues at this crucial juncture.
On the part of the government, there should be incentives in the form of
attractive remuneration, additional marks for NEET (for interns) and decent
food and living condition.
Recognition for OMFS as an important surgical speciality has
to be earned by our actions, not by just claiming parity and privileges without
taking risks. I have volunteered. Have you?
Dr George Paul
Past Hon. Secretary, AOMSI
Past President AOMSI
