Bridge Course for BDS Students & Graduates Pursuing MBBS Degree | PrepLadder

Dental Council of India (DCI) in association with Medical Council of India (MCI) has proposed a bridge course to help BDS students get an MBBS degree. This proposal was made in order to overcome the shortage of doctors and specialists across the nation. If this proposal is passed, thousands of jobless BDS grads across India can hope to get an MBBS degree and go for PG specializations. Until now many BDS grads were jobless, this forced them to take jobs outside their field. Dr D Majumdar, DCI President said, "The proposal has been framed with the assistance of Medical Council of India and will be forwarded for consideration to the ministry of health and family welfare". He made this announcement  on the King George's Medical University's dental faculty foundation day function. He also added, "Dental and medical students travel the same path from the beginning till the stage of specialisation after third year". Bobby Ramamkant who is a Health activist said, "On one hand over 85% seats for physicians are lying vacant at the community health center, while over 15,000 dental graduates are struggling for jobs in India. The bridge course seems to be an effective solution." Statistics of Rural Health in India shows vacancy of 83% in position of surgeons, in obstretics and gynaecology the vacancy is 76%, while in positions of paediatricians shortfall is of 82% in community health centers. Ramakant also said that This step can be helpful in curbing the menace of quacks”. Dr Aseem Tikku, DCI executive member said that "Over 3,000 BDS students pass out of different dental colleges in the state but there is enormous scarcity of jobs and not every student can afford to start a private practice. The lack of opportunity makes their skill unused". It may be noted that a bridge course for MBBS doctors wanting to became a dentist is already in place. The MBBS to BDS condense course allows MBBS grads to take up PG courses in dentistry. Do you think this will be a good move? Tell us in the comments below.