In a noteworthy development for dental healthcare, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the National Dental Commission's (NDC) new headquarters. Simultaneously, he laid the foundation stones for three Nursing Colleges in Andhra Pradesh and one in Jammu and Kashmir through a virtual ceremony.

The event also witnessed Dr. Mandaviya presiding over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Dental Council of India and the Quality Council of India, focusing on the assessment and rating of undergraduate dental colleges.

Additionally, he launched the National Dental Register under the National Health Digital Mission. Virtually joining the minister were Dr. Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Tripura, and Shri Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr. Mandaviya heralded the advent of the Dental Commission as a transformative milestone in dental education and administration. He emphasized that the government, through the Dental Commission Act, aimed to make dental education more practical, affordable, and transparent, simultaneously ensuring affordable and quality treatment for patients.

 The minister underscored the necessity of raising awareness about oral hygiene to tap into the vast opportunities in this domain for the benefit of the nation. Commending the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Dr. Mandaviya praised the proactive approach to health that has brought about significant changes, enhancing the accessibility and availability of healthcare services for all.

During the address, the Union Health Minister highlighted the launch of the National Dental Register (NDR) under the One Nation One Register initiative. He explained that the NDR, created to provide transparency, will offer a Unique Identification (DCI ID) to all practicing dentists in India after verification from their respective State Dental Councils. This move is expected to help citizens identify dentists verified by state dental councils.

Furthermore, Dr. Mandaviya reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening the nursing workforce and addressing healthcare disparities across regions. He revealed that the ceremony was part of the government's broader scheme to establish 157 new nursing colleges co-located with existing medical colleges.

 Recognizing the rising demand for trained Indian nurses abroad, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the incorporation of foreign language courses in medical education institutes, offering students an additional advantage in capturing opportunities abroad. As an example, he cited the initiation of a Japanese language course in two nursing colleges in Assam.