Patients Face Tough Choice Between Tooth Loss and Costly Private Treatment
Key Points:
- Over 1,000 dental patients visit monthly with 20% needing RCT
- Lack of equipment forces unnecessary tooth extractions at govt facility
- Private treatment costs up to Rs 15,000, unaffordable for many
JAMSHEDPUR – MGM Medical Hospital’s dental department conducts around 2,400 avoidable tooth extractions yearly due to lack of root canal facilities.
The hospital receives over 60 dental patients daily. However, essential equipment remains unavailable.
Critical Healthcare Gap
The facility has two dental chairs. Moreover, specialist doctors are available.
Equipment and technicians are missing. “We can only offer temporary relief,” a hospital source explained.
Financial Impact
Private hospitals charge heavily for RCT. The treatment costs between Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000.
Additional capping costs Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,500. Meanwhile, most patients cannot afford private care.
Administrative Hurdles
The department head must initiate facility requests. However, no demand letter has been submitted yet.
Department heads recently received spending authority. They can now utilize up to Rs 10 lakh annually.
Infrastructure Development
The hospital plans major improvements. Twenty-two new committees will oversee reforms.
MBBS seats will increase to 150. Furthermore, a new hospital building is being planned.
