ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s (PMDC) decision to expand the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program from four to five years will result in no BDS graduates in 2028, compounding the country’s already critical shortage of dental professionals and raising alarms about the future of oral healthcare.
Speaking exclusively to Dental News, Dr. Khurshid Ahmed, President of the Pakistan Dental Association (PDA), highlighted that Pakistan produces approximately 3,700 BDS graduates annually, which is already insufficient to bridge the existing gaps in dental healthcare. "It would take 20 to 25 years at this rate to meet the current needs. The suspension of a graduating batch in 2028, caused by the program extension, will only widen this gap, severely delaying improvements in dental health services," he explained.
Pakistan’s alarming dentist-to-population ratio
With approximately one dentist per 12,500 people, Pakistan significantly lags behind developed countries, where the ratio averages one dentist per 2,000 people in Europe and one dentist per 1,400 people in the United States. This disparity highlights Pakistan’s struggle to provide adequate dental care.
"The situation is worsened by the presence of 100,000 unqualified dental quacks, who not only outnumber the country’s 38,000 registered dental surgeons but also pose serious risks to public health through unsafe practices. Diseases like hepatitis and HIV are frequently transmitted due to these unregulated operators," Dr. Khurshid lamented.
Dr. Khurshid explained that out of 38,000 registered dental surgeons, it is estimated that only 20,000 are actively practicing due to factors like migration and socio-cultural barriers, particularly affecting female dentists’ participation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a steady graduate pipeline to address these gaps.
The call for curriculum modernization
Dental experts argue that the current four-year BDS program meets global standards and that curriculum modernization, rather than extension, is the way forward.
“PMDC should focus on upgrading and modernizing the curriculum with cutting-edge advancements, ensuring our graduates remain globally competitive while addressing local needs,” Dr. Ahmed urged.
Action plan: Seminar to drive reform
The PDA has organized a seminar in Islamabad on December 7, where policymakers, academics, and practitioners will discuss actionable reforms. The event aims to present solutions that balance global accreditation requirements with Pakistan’s healthcare realities.
The way forward
With a stark contrast between Pakistan and developed nations in dental healthcare access, experts are calling for immediate reforms to bridge the gap. Enhancing the existing curriculum and building capacity are essential steps to reduce reliance on quacks and improve overall oral healthcare.
The PMDC’s decision underscores the urgent need for stakeholder collaboration to avoid long-term repercussions for Pakistan’s oral health infrastructure.
