All Dental Colleges to be opened by 4th January 2021: Dental Council issues timelines

New Delhi: Following the directions of the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Dental Council of India (DCI) has issued guidelines as well as SOP for re-Opening of Dental Colleges Post Lockdown due to COVID-19 Pandemic. The council has also specified the tentative/Suggestive Schedule of Academic Program — (Post Pandemic Covid 19 Situation) and its duration including University Exam'

Universities and Dental Colleges across the country have been closed since March 2020 when the Government of India announced a countrywide lockdown as one of the measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Keeping in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent Lockdown, the Dental Council of India as well as the Government of India and respective State/UTs issued various guidelines in this regard from time to time. The universities and colleges however had put in their best efforts to continue their academic programs and complete the syllabi using various ICT tools of teaching and learning since their closure from mid-March onwards.

The Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in November 2020 asked all the Chief Secretary and the administrator of all the State/UTs to take necessary steps to open the medical colleges on or before 1.12.2020 complying with all the SOPs/guidelines with respect to social distancing and prevention of the spread of epidemic issued by them. The National Medical Commission has also issued certain guidelines and suggestive schedules of the academic programs including university examinations in this regard. The Dental Council of India, on the similar lines of NMC on 11.12.2020 sent it's a self-contained proposal with guidelines to the Government of India for re-opening of dental colleges and for internship completion.

The Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, on the suggestion of the Dental Council of India, on the similar lines of NMC, has now requested that the States UTs may take necessary steps to open the Dental Colleges on or before 4th January 2021. All the SOPs/guidelines with respect to social distancing and prevention of the spread of epidemic issued by Central/States/UT Governments will be followed scrupulously by all the Colleges. Simultaneously, the GOI vide its letter of even number dated 28.12.2020 requested DCI to issue separate SOPs/guidelines of Dental Colleges and suggestive schedule of training of different classes.

With a new academic session going on, the universities and dental colleges need a customized plan, as per the local conditions where they are located, to deal with any eventuality arising due to the COVID -19 before resuming the activities on campuses. The top priority, while opening the institutions, should be the safety, health, and well-being of the students, teachers, and staff.

The DCI has now accordingly framed and uploaded its "Guidelines for Re-Opening of Dental Colleges Post Lockdown due to COVID-19 Pandemic" (Annexure-11), "Tentative/Suggestive Schedule of Academic Programme —(Post Pandemic COVE! 19 Situation) and its duration including University Exam" (Annexure-111) and Advisory on "Relaxation of three months period in the submission of the Post Graduate dissertation/Thesis" (Annexure-1V) on its website which provide in detail the measures to be taken before re-opening of dental college. These guidelines/advisories may be adopted by the dental colleges as per the local conditions and directives of the Government authorities.

Following are the details of the same

GUIDELINES FOR RE-OPENING OF DENTAL COLLEGES POST LOCKDOWN DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Dental education is unique because students have to start performing dental procedures from 3td Year onwards under the supervision of faculty as per DCI BDS Course Regulations 2017. Some subjects have pre-

clinical labs in 2nd Year for preparedness before entering into the clinic whereas in other subject students are allowed directly to start clinical work in 3rd year.

Keeping in view of the uncertainties of the future due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the functioning of dental colleges, college authorities may reopen their campuses in a phased manner, ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of all students, faculty and staff. College authorities should plan the opening of a dental college in such a manner so that they are ready to handle any eventuality arising due to Covid 19.

The college authority may if required augment these guidelines for its strict implementation. In making specific guidelines, the college authorities shall consider the direction and advisory of center/state govt., UT administration as well as national/ state disaster management authorities

BDS Course Regulations 2007 shall continue to be applicable for teaching, clinical and lab training for BDS Curriculum. However, changes in time table to accommodate staggered classes may be made while maintaining the number of teaching hours as prescribed in DCI BDS Course Regulations 2007.

The States/UTs may take the necessary steps to open the dental colleges on or before 4th January 2021. All the guidelines / SOPs with respect to social distancing and prevention of the spread of epidemic issued by Central/ State/UT Governments/ DC1 will be meticulously followed by all the colleges General preventive measures during Covid-19 Pandemic

The following health measures are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID- 19 by all (faculty members, employees, students and visitors) at all times:

I. Physical distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed as far as feasible.

II. Use of face covers/masks to be made mandatory.

III. Frequent hand washing with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (for at least 20 seconds) can be done wherever feasible.

IV. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one's mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue/handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing of used tissues properly.

V. Self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest.

VI. Spitting shall be a strictly prohibited and punishable offense inside the campus as per the local Govt./ college authorities.

VII. Installation & use of Aarogya Setu App shall be advised wherever feasible.

VIII. Regular training of faculty, students, paramedical staff, and other supporting staff should be provided on methods for controlling the spread of transmission.

IX. Regular screening of faculty, staff, and students should be carried out for any Covid like symptoms at points of entry of the college as well hostels.

X. The period of absence of students on account of being quarantined due to Covid-19 shall not adversely affect their attendance on furnishing the necessary documents in support of their claim.

XL Regular visits of a counsellor to be arranged so that the faculty, staff and students may allay their anxiety, stress or fear during the pandemic time.

XII. Guidelines of CPWD regarding air conditioning/ventilation as mentioned in UGC guidelines may be followed.

Teaching:

1. Online mode of teaching should be promoted for lectures during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The campus of dental colleges should be made WI-fi enabled

2. Students may be allowed to attend online classes inside the college campus if the need so arises.

3. Classrooms should be well ventilated for air entry and exit.

4. Facility of contactless disinfection/ hand washing has to be mandatorily provided by the college authorities at various strategic points.

5. Entry and exit of the students in the lecture theatre, examination hall, and other areas to be monitored to avoid crowding.

6. Lecture theatres should be sanitized after every lecture.

7. Simulation teaching and objective structured clinical/ practical training methods, case-based learning, and problem-based learning should be endeavored to be incorporated in the teaching-learning modules.

Preclinical labs:

1. Students should be allotted designated working stations with at least 6 feet distance between them.

2. Labs should be well ventilated for air entry and exit.

3. Outside the lab the facility of contactless disinfection/ hand washing has to be mandatorily provided by the college authorities.

4. Respiratory etiquettes, mouth, nose, eye and ear cover should be strictly followed inside the lab.

5. Repeat labs should be arranged for the students who may have missed them due to inability to attend earlier labs because of Covid-19 disease/ containment zones.

Triage & Registration Area:

1. Pre-treatment assessment in the triage area is a must before patients are permitted in the college.

2. Install glass/plastic barriers at the reception desk and consultation table.

3. Tele-consultation should be promoted for the screening of patients.

4. The institution shall endeavor to provide contactless / cashless payment methods.

5. OPD time can be staggered and duration may be increased to avoid crowding. Waiting Room:

1. Regular sensitization of patients should be carried out regarding preventive measures of control of Covid-19.

2. Waiting areas should be provided with audio/visual/printed educational material on Covid 19 prevention.

3. Seating in the waiting area of clinics should be marked to enable adequate social distancing.

Clinical:

1. Eye, ear, nose, mouth and shoe covers shall be mandatorily used by faculty, students and paramedical staff inside the clinics.

2. Patients attendants should not be allowed in the clinical area except with pediatric, geriatric and physically challenged patients with all safety measure.

3. Minimum 8 feet distance between two working chairs shall be mandatory for all the dental colleges irrespective of their date of commencement of BDS Course. This shall help in the implementation of four-handed dentistry.

4. Students in the clinics should be allowed with staggered timing to avoid any cross-infection. However, clinical work should not be compromised.

5. Clinical postings, in order to facilitate all types of clinical work, should be planned in such a manner so that at a given point of time, both 3rd year and final year BDS students may be posted.

6. All dental procedures as prescribed in DCI Curriculum (BDS Course Regulations 2007) shall be carried out in the clinics by students/ faculty members with appropriate protection.

7. Preprocedural mouth rinse with Povidone-iodine should be used.

8. The patients should wear face masks during nonworking period e.g.

a) Recording of history.

b) Armamentarium to be arranged prior to starting of the procedure.

c) Local anesthesia to act.

d) Post-procedure instruction.

9. Donning and doffing of protective kits wherever required should be restricted to designated areas only.

10. Protective kits should be disposed of as per the latest guidelines of bio-medical waste management prescribed by the state pollution boards.

11. Maintenance of instrument sterilization and disinfection should be stringently followed as per standard infection control protocols.

12. After every procedure the dental chair, unit and its associated water and pressure lines should be disinfected.

13. With respect to 3rd BDS teaching in subjects of General Medicine and General Surgery the guidelines of the National Medical Commission shall be applicable. Other Facilities:

1. All the measures as prescribed in the UGC in its guidelines dated 5th Nov 2020, shall also be followed by all the dental institutional before its opening at its hostel, library, parking, cafeteria, gym and other administrative areas should be complied as per UGC Guidelines

2. All students must bring an RT-PCR report that is negative at the time of re-joining the hostels.

3. Institutional level SOPs for the safety of faculty, staff, students, and patients shall be formulated, approved and implemented by the Infection Control Committee (ICC) of the dental college. An emergency number, helpline number, email id and contact details of person to be contacted in case of any emergency should be circulated to all stakeholders and prominently displayed at the entry to the campus.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the above Guidelines, every dental college has to ensure that it is prepared in all respects to carry out the academic activities following necessary advisories/guidelines/directions issued by the CentraUState Government, Ministry of Education (earlier referred to as MHRD) or UGC from time to time to prevent the spread of COV!D-19.

DCI—Dental colleges — Tentative/Suggestive Schedule of Academic Program — (Post Pandemic Covid 19 Situation) and its duration including University Exam'

ADVISORY on Relaxations for submission of dissertation thesis by PG Students

The Dental Council of India, after having carefully considered the requests of the students admitted during the Academic year 2019-2020, the unprecedented situation of COVID 19 pandemic and the training requirements of the MDS students, has decided as under:

1. The sub-clause 11 (3) (i) of Dental Council of India, Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2017 provides for submission of the Postgraduate dissertation/thesis within 6 months before appearing for the University examinations. In view of the COVID 19 pandemic the DCI has decided to relax the said portion of the regulation and allow the Postgraduate degree students of batches 2018-19 and 2019-20 only, to submit their thesis at least three months before the Theory and Clinical/Practical examination.

2. Further, in view of the dearth of clinical material during the current COVID 19 pandemic, the Universities and Dental colleges/institutions are also advised that while evaluating the thesis submitted for acceptance for the batches 2018-19 and 2019-20, the final sample size actually analyzed may be considered even if it is less than the committed sample size in the approved thesis protocol for the study.

To view the official notice click on the following link:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-145187.pdf