Toothaches
September 8, 2009
THE Council of Ministers has approved a sub-decree intended to encourage dentists to undergo professional training, though it does not call for any penalties to be levied against dentists who refuse to do so.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said he believed the sub-decree, passed Friday, would “make the people have more confidence in our dentists”.
Hem Chhin, an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Health, said Sunday that there were 372 trained dentists in the Kingdom, but that only 200 or so were practising. As a result, the vast majority of the Kingdom’s 1,124 dental clinics are staffed by dentists who have not received formal training, he said.
The Post article does not say how many committees and sub-committees, men and man-hours, it took to pass the new dental sub-decree. But if the only result was this toothless ruling, then all of the work was for zip. Why even bother?
September 8, 2009 at 7:18 pm
There is nothing wrong with a country being curious about how many dentists are practicing within their boarders without a license and where. I am impressed that some in the Cambodian government even cared enough to wonder.
The governments decision to not take action on this issue, I understand.
Anyone that has experienced a nasty tooth-ache know the pain can be excruciating and very seldom gets better on it’s own. Something needs to be done – real soon.
If I make USD$200 are year, living deep in the provinces, I’m not going to spend USD$18.00+, plus travel costs, to see some expensive guy. It’s just not in the budget.
I see rural dentistry similar to that of the midwife helping in the process of child birth. Neither have formal education. As primitive as they may be, just like a real doctor, they work from their experience and reputation.