MoU Signed to Upgrade Dental Care Services in Budgam’s Khaag Block

Improved dental care services are set to reach the remote Khaag block in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir following a new collaboration between two major medical institutions, officials said on Friday.
The Department of Public Health Dentistry at Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Community Medicine at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar to enhance dental healthcare facilities in the region.

“The agreement focuses on the collaborative strengthening, upgrading and capacity building of the Dental Health Centre at PHC Khaag, a rural health training centre of GMC Srinagar mandated by the National Medical Commission in Budgam district,” said Dr Aasim Farooq, head of the Department of Public Health Dentistry.

According to officials, the initiative is expected to improve dental healthcare access in rural areas and may serve as a model for expanding similar services across the Union Territory.

Dr Farooq also noted that the department is already operating several peripheral dental centres in collaboration with other institutions. “The department is already running five such peripheral centres in collaboration with Government Medical College Baramulla and the Directorate of Health Services at CHC Tangmarg, PHC Sallar Anantnag, HC Fakir Gujri Srinagar, UHTC Bagi Islam Baramulla and RHTC Kalantra Baramulla,” Dr Farooq added.

The partnership follows decisions taken during a meeting chaired by NITI Aayog member Dr Vinod K Paul in September last year, which focused on addressing key challenges related to dental healthcare access in the Union Territory.

Officials highlighted several issues affecting dental services in the region, including rural-urban disparities in dental care, limited availability of advanced dental services outside dental colleges, and the lack of a structured framework for training and capacity building of healthcare personnel.

Speaking about the initiative, Sandeep Kaur Bali, Principal of Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar, said the collaboration reflects the institution’s efforts to extend quality healthcare services beyond its campus.

“This collaboration embodies the commitment to taking quality dental care beyond the confines of the college. By joining forces with the Department of Community Medicine, we are adopting a holistic approach to upgrade the Dental Health Centre in Budgam into a model facility that serves as a benchmark for peripheral healthcare in the Valley,” Bali added.