Pakistan’s dental profession is experiencing a significant transformation with the rise of dental colleges and postgraduate graduates, but this influx of qualified professionals is creating multiple challenges for many young and ambitious dentists, including, job market saturation, lack of public and private sectors’ capacity to provide well paid jobs and high costs of initiating private practice, resulting in brain drain and other issues
One of the main challenges is the limited career opportunities available. After completing their postgraduate training and earning their degrees, many specialists face a saturated job market. The country’s healthcare system is not expanding quickly enough to absorb the growing number of specialists produced each year.
The public health sector, which should employ a substantial portion of these dentists, struggles to offer competitive salaries and growth prospects due to financial constraints. Consequently, competition for the few available positions is fierce, with merit often taking a back seat to personal connections.
In the private sector, hospitals generally do not offer employment but allow dental specialists to establish clinics on a shared basis. Unlike medical specialists, dentists require significant financial investment to start their own practice.
The rising taxes on dental equipment, coupled with the high cost of instruments and materials due to the depreciation of the rupee, have made it increasingly difficult for many to establish themselves.
It is estimated that between Rs 5-10 million is needed to start a new dental practice. Unfortunately, the government does not provide financial support or easy loan facilities for this purpose.
In the past, private dental teaching institutions offered more job opportunities, but these are now saturated, and salaries often do not reflect the specialists' academic qualifications or expertise. This disparity is demoralising for postgraduate dentists, who have invested significant time and resources into their careers. The situation is further aggravated by delayed recruitment processes and irregular payment schedules in many institutions.
Another obstacle is the lack of advanced dental facilities and equipment in most public and private hospitals. This limits postgraduate dentists' ability to utilise their specialised knowledge, leading to feelings of underachievement and professional stagnation.
Some dental graduates choose to pursue PhD or MPhil degrees in basic medical sciences, qualifying them to teach medical students as per HEC and PMDC standards. However, these individuals often report facing discrimination when applying for teaching positions in medical schools.
Globally, the field of dentistry has seen tremendous advancements, particularly with the integration of technology in patient care. However, in Pakistan, the adoption of such technologies is slow, primarily due to affordability, lack of awareness, and insufficient training opportunities. Financial constraints play a critical role in this hesitation, and the government should step in to provide financial support so that specialists can offer top-quality, internationally comparable services.
The lack of funding for dental research is another critical issue. Without adequate financial backing, postgraduate dentists cannot conduct comprehensive research, collaborate with international experts, or access state-of-the-art resources and technology. Increased investment from both government and private sectors is necessary to advance dental research and enhance patient care in line with global standards.
The country’s sociopolitical instability also exacerbates the predicament of postgraduate dentists. Frequent changes in government policies, inconsistent healthcare reforms, and bureaucratic inefficiencies create an unpredictable environment that hampers professional growth.
Another contributing factor to this crisis is the brain drain. Globalisation offers lucrative opportunities abroad, prompting many postgraduate dentists to seek careers overseas. This exodus of talent not only depletes the country of its highly skilled professionals but also creates a gap in specialised dental care.
The plight of postgraduate dental specialists is a multifaceted issue that requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders. Expanding job opportunities, offering financial support, providing competitive salaries, and implementing policies to retain talent within the country are urgent and necessary steps to alleviate the situation.