Are there No Oral Pathologists at Punjab Govt Dental Colleges? Check RTI responses
Absence of Oral Pathologists in Government Dental Colleges
New Delhi: Some of the Government Dental Colleges in Punjab do not have any Oral Pathologists and in some cases, the reports are being prepared by BSc degree holders, the responses to the Right to Information (RTI) applications revealed.
Highlighting these irregularities in this regard at Government Dental Colleges at Patiala and Amritsar, filed by Dr. Bhuvan Nagpal, the President of of the Practicing Oral Pathologists and Microbiologists Association (POPMA) recently wrote to the Dental Council of India (DCI), seeking an urgent audit of all dental colleges across India to assess staffing and compliance in Oral Pathology Departments.
Pointing out that having no Oral Pathologists in the institutes was a violation of the DCI guidelines, Dr. Nagpal also urged DCI to issue mandatory directives to institutes violating DCI guidelines to immediately appoint qualified Oral Pathologists and enforce strict penalties on institutes found in non-compliance to deter such violations in the future.
Apart from this, he also prayed to DCI to strengthen monitoring frameworks to ensure consistent adherence to the standards set by the Dental Council.
RTI Reply Reveals Govt Dental Colleges Do not Have Oral Pathologists:
Last year, filing the RTI applications, Dr. Nagpal had sought information about the educational qualifications of authorised signatory of various diagnostic tests/investigations, and laboratory reports, which are being performed in the clinical laboratory of the Punjab Govt Dental College & Hospital, Amritsar.
He also sought information about the educational qualifications of the HoD or in charge of departments of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, the Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology at the institute, and the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.
In response, the PB Govt Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar informed on 09.01.2025, "As there are no Oral Pathologists in this institute, tests which are available in this institute are performed and reports are prepared by a BSc (Medical Laboratory Technology) degree holder."
Regarding the educational qualifications of the HoD/in charge of the above-mentioned departments, the college informed that the doctors were MDS degree holders in those specialities.
Last year, the college informed that "The Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology in Punjab Government Dental College & Hospital, Amritsar does not have any Oral Pathologist (specialist) so the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology does not perform diagnostic procedures/investigations."
"As the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology does not have Oral Pathologist, histopathological cases, biopsy samples or special staining/Immunohistochemistry are not performed in the Department. The information about the hematological biochemical investigations etc. comes under the authority of Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics of the Institution," mentioned the college.
It further added, "As the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology does not have Oral Pathologist, ultrastructural, molecular biology/pathology investigations, FNAC, brush biopsies etc are not performed in the department."
Meanwhile, Government Dental College and Hospital, Patiala informed that "at present none of the diagnostic procedures/investigations are being carried out in the department of Oral Pathology as there is no Oral Pathologist/Lab Technician posted in the institution as on date [25.10.2024]."
DCI Intervention Sought:
Highlighting these issues, last year in December, Dr. Nagpal wrote to DCI on behalf of POPMA. "Recent responses to RTI applications filed by our association with Government Dental College and Hospital, Patiala and Punjab Government Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar have revealed that both institutions currently lack designated Oral Pathologists in their respective Departments of Oral Pathology and Microbiology," mentioned the letter.
"This alarming situation constitutes a gross violation of the Dental Council of India (DCI) guidelines, which mandate the presence of a qualified Oral Pathologist to head such departments in dental colleges. The absence of these specialists not only devalues the core discipline of Oral Pathology but also jeopardizes the quality of education imparted to students and the diagnostic capabilities of these institutions," it added.
He pointed out that the lack of qualified Oral Pathologists in these institutes represented a direct contravention of DCI norms and the neglect erodes the foundational principles of dental education.
"Oral Pathology is a cornerstone discipline in dental education, integrating clinical and diagnostic sciences. The absence of dedicated specialists deprives students of proper training in understanding oral diseases, biopsies, cytology, and advanced molecular studies, leaving a critical gap in their education," Dr. Nagpal added in the letter addressed to the DCI President on 19.12.2024.
"The failure to appoint qualified Oral Pathologists demonstrates a concerning apathy toward this essential specialty. It not only undermines the contributions of Oral Pathology to dental education and diagnostics but also threatens its future as a distinct and respected discipline," he added.
Following this, on 14.01.2025, the DCI sought confirmation from Dr Nagpal seeking to know whether the complaint was filed by him. Consequently, on 21.01.2025, Dr. Nagpal wrote to DCI again and confirmed that the original complaint was submitted by himself on behalf of POPMA. The DCI action in this regard is still awaited.
