New Delhi*: The All India Dental Students and Dental Surgeons Association (AIDSA) recently voiced their disappointment with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India for failing to provide crucial information regarding budget allocation for oral healthcare and the provision of central government jobs in the field. 

The association had sought this information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. However, their inquiry yielded no data, leaving the AIDSA and the broader dental community concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability in oral healthcare initiatives.

Following the Ministry's response, the Dental Council of India also failed to provide the requested information, exacerbating the transparency gap in the sector. This failure to disclose essential data highlights a significant gap in governmental transparency and accountability concerning oral healthcare.

In response to these developments, the AIDSA emphasized the urgent need for greater attention to oral health in India. They pointed out the lack of prioritization of oral healthcare by the Indian government and urged political parties to include concrete measures for oral healthcare in their manifestos.

This failure to provide data not only reflects poorly on the state of oral healthcare but also raises concerns about the transparency and accountability of healthcare initiatives in the country. The absence of this crucial information impedes efforts to assess the effectiveness of government policies and allocate resources efficiently in the oral healthcare sector.

The AIDSA has called for immediate action to address this transparency gap and ensure that oral healthcare receives the attention and resources it deserves. For more updates on this issue, visit www.aidsaindia.org.