COVID-19: Pakistans ... Continued from front page management only. Dr Awab Alvi said that the fight against the coronavirus can only be succeeded if everyone in dental practice, maintain good protection protocol. Especially in regard to the protective equipment, dental fraternity needs to assist each other and consider the financial constraint imposed with it. The dental practice may change altogether once this virus is gone. Dentists may have to adopt stricter measures like face visors and better protective gears, commented Dr Awab. Dr Mahmood Shah, the President of Pakistan Dental Association termed the current scenario as the biggest challenge the community has ever encountered. Talking to the president of the Dental Trade and Manufacturers Association, Liaqat Humayun, he termed the situation as a complete economic meltdown. "The impact we are seeing is huge. With institutions closed and the prices of consumables soaring it is time that dental industry prepares itself for the unprecedented challenges once this is over," he said. "The prices of masks alone have gone up by 400 times and same is the case for surgical gloves. Import has come to a standstill, staff has been relieved in some cases and the business carried out is based on stock available," he concluded. The industry stalwarts like Idrees Qadri and Ashraf Ghauri also said that the dental industry stands to suffer the most in the healthcare sector and must brace itself for challenges in the post COVID-19 era. The industry faces acute cash-flow shortage with no payments coming and the whole business cycle is halted with clinics going for emergency/consultation only and in many cases closed. Even in such dark times, there is a light of hope. A student based initiative called 'Agahi For Corona' has been started to help the community. The campaign, headed by Dr Talha M.Siddiqui, Vice Principal, Baqai Dental College, Baqai Medical University and Dr M.Ainul Haq, Assistant Director and Head Department of Medical Education, Baqai Dental College, Baqai Medical University, includes students, House Officers, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and paramedics The only redeeming feature at this point in time is that the whole world is adversely affected. It is true that the dental industry is badly hit with the catastrophe, but the collective efforts can resuscitate the community back. An exclusive interview with Dr Ambrina Qureshi Continued from page 4 what actual basic need of our country was. The basic need of our country was prevention. And it still is. We should all try to focus on prevention rather 2020 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 11 March than you know We should give it time to an extent where it can be addressed. I think it's time that we all should understand what our community needs rather than what are our standards demands. entrance there are many females and hardly any males. This could be because of the prevailing educational movement. But unfortunately, if we look into the other side of the picture, we will find out that only 15 percent of these women DTP: PMDC (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council) dissolution has caused a stir among dental community. Your comments on that? AQ: I don't see a major stir among dental community, to be very honest. I think the stir was mostly around the people who were direct sufferers of this dissolution [which were] the employees of the PMDC. What actually Dental Community really wanted? They were m o r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e i r registrations. They were more concerned about their faculty registrations, their experience certificates and so on. So I think if it is still in continuity then the dental community is not much worried. The most worriers are the people who were actually working for the PMDC. DTP: Students have to appear in NLE (National License Exam) to become eligible in house job. Your take on that? AQ: First of all NLE has not started as yet. I suppose this will be implemented in coming year, somewhere. Let's just wait for it to come. I think if the We should start spreading awareness to the rural populations through tele-dentistry government has decided such a thing [that is because] all other countries are also doing it. So I don't think there is any harm in it. But let the time come and then maybe we are able to see if it [turns out to be] good or bad. DTP: Why is Pakistan's post- graduation degree lagging behind on global level? AQ: I think the culture of thinking and [especially] the culture of critical thinking, to be more precise and the culture of questioning, is lacking in our country. Our postgraduate or be it be our undergraduate students, I think they all are lagging behind because they are not given chances. They themselves are not in a habit of questioning. They are rather overburdened by a spate of assignments, quizzes and presentations and you know things like that. So all the time they are more focused on to meet their concerned targets
And this is with both the undergraduates as well as Post-Graduates. I think this culture needs to be instilled in our society .The culture of questioning and critical thinking is important, you know. DTP: In clinical practice we have a higher male to female ratio as dental professionals in Pakistan, why do you think this trend is prevailing? AQ: There are many females in this profession, when the [admission in dental colleges] takes place. At the Reading systematic reviews are important rather than reading some simple articles who have done their graduation, would continue their Post-Graduation or even you know pursue in their clinical fields. They are hardly given an opportunity to become head of the departments or institute, or like becoming Dean or Principal. There are very few women who get this chance. I think that is basically because of the gender inequity rather than inequality, I must say. DTP: As a woman, how do you think female dental professionals can work along with all the burdens they carry, some tips for them? AQ: To be very frank, this burden is not what they have put on their on their shoulders. Most of the burden is given to them by their male counterparts because probably they are not able to handle it (laughs). I think women are more powerful to carry that burden and they are very happy in carrying that burden. But there is a little suggestion for them from my side. They need to be negotiators. They need to learn how to negotiate things which, unfortunately, we were not taught while we were developing. So I think for the new generation of the females, it's my advice that they should learn how to negotiate with the things, how to negotiate with the burden which had been given to them. [They should learn] how to lessen it down and how to put it back on male counterpart. This is my answer. DTP: What are the hot topics for dental researches these days? AQ: It's the way how you present it. It's the way how you write it. Even if it is a very, you know, not a hot topic. If you write it in a way and you know sell it in a way that is impressive. I think it can become hot. DTP: Do you think research at under grad level really have any worth? AQ: As I mentioned earlier, Students need to develop those skills of critical thinking and questioning. And all this comes through working on research. So I think it's very important for an undergraduate to start learning about research, yes. DTP Any suggestions you want to give for dental students who are thinking to do research in future? AQ: Why in future why not in present? In fact they should start doing research now! And my sincere suggestion would be, if they really want to do research. There is this prevailing stereotypical comment that read more and you'll understand more about research. What you [actually] need to read, that is important. Reading systematic reviews are important rather than reading some simple articles. Read systematic reviews! That is how you would come to know what is happening all over world. Systematic reviews would give you conclusive ideas where the gap is and how you can fill those gaps. So get into a habit of reading systematic reviews of all the topics that are of your interest. DTP: Researches done in Pakistan are still struggling to level with the ones done on international level, how do you think this difference can be eradicated? AQ: How this difference can be eradicated? Maybe its answer would come later. Why this is happening is more important. This is happening because, again I think our undergrads even our post grads, and they are not given the proper guidance of how to do research. As I already mentioned, they should develop a habit of reading systematic reviews. Reading systematic reviews with meta-analysis would give them an idea where the gap is [by comparing it with] the international level and where those gaps need not to be and how those gaps need to be filled. So once they do that, there is nothing that can stop them from publishing into good international journals or from doing international level trials and researches. What currently they are doing is they are copying researchers which are already being done. So copying is not research. Doing it again and in their own good methodological, you know, that is the need of the day. DTP: Any message for new dentists? AQ: They should understand what our public needs are, what they really want. And you should help them understand their needs as well. So awareness is important. Spread awareness for the sake of this public. Dr Jamal headlines ... Continued from page 8 discussed in the workshop. The tutorial on World Health Organization-WHO based guidelines to hand hygiene was the highlight of the course. Participants included students from multiple institutions and few belonged to interior Sindh. The interactive session, video demonstrations and IPACD awareness was appreciated by the audience. Dr Adil also revealed about his upcoming advance course in IPACD with the specialist speakers from Australia in next few months at CODE- M. -PR FDC organises 3rd sessions ... Continued from page 8 deep bite malocclusions. Later, Dr Afifa Ahsan, Associate professor, Oral Biology gave a detailed lecture on the importance of maxillary first molar in development of occlusion and malocclusion. The college administration supported and appreciated the efforts of orthodontics department in organizing the session. -PR