ADAVB calls for more dentists
ADAVB’s President, Dr Chris Callahan, said the need to redress the extreme doctor training imbalance was entirely justified and that it also applied to dentistry.
He said that only about 70 dental students per annum start the five-year course at Melbourne University’s School of Dental Science, which is the only dental school training dentists in Victoria. This compares with more than 200 pharmacy students entering two Victorian pharmacy colleges each year.
Of the 70 students in the current intake, about 35 are HECS funded, and the remaining 35 are full fee students, with roughly half of those being overseas and half local students.
Dr Callahan said that the low intake of dental students was resulting in chronic workforce and waiting list problems at the end of the five-year course. This is having particular impact on rural communities, with waiting lists of up to five years in some areas.
He said that only about 70 dental students per annum start the five-year course at Melbourne University’s School of Dental Science, which is the only dental school training dentists in Victoria. This compares with more than 200 pharmacy students entering two Victorian pharmacy colleges each year.
Of the 70 students in the current intake, about 35 are HECS funded, and the remaining 35 are full fee students, with roughly half of those being overseas and half local students.
Dr Callahan said that the low intake of dental students was resulting in chronic workforce and waiting list problems at the end of the five-year course. This is having particular impact on rural communities, with waiting lists of up to five years in some areas.
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