Budgam, May 19: In a significant step toward expanding equitable healthcare access, the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH) Srinagar, in collaboration with the Department of community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, today inaugurated the Satellite Dental Health Centre at PHC Khaag(RHTC) , District Budgam. The centre aims to deliver comprehensive oral healthcare services to rural and underserved populations, bridging critical gaps in regional health infrastructure.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Khaag, and was formally presided over by the Chief Guest, Advocate Saif Ud Din Bhat, Hon’ble MLA, Khansahib, District Budgam. In his address, the MLA commended the initiative as a model of inter-departmental collaboration and reiterated the need for decentralized health services that reach the last mile. He formally inaugurated the centre by cutting the ribbon and interacting with the first beneficiaries.
The event also witnessed the gracious presence of Prof. (Dr) Sandeep Kaur Bali, Principal/Dean, GDC Srinagar, and Prof (Dr) S Saleem Khan Head of the department Community Medicine Government Medical College Srinagar and Dr Aasim Farooq Shah, Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, GDC Srinagar. They emphasized that the satellite unit will function as a hub for preventive care, routine check-ups, emergency dental procedures, and public awareness campaigns on oral hygiene within Khaag area with a population of approximately 52000.
Other distinguished attendees included, Dr Mohammad Ashraf Wani (BMO, PHC Khaag, District Budgam) and Dr Anjum Dental surgeon posted at the ventre. Their collective guidance ensured the alignment of the centre’s objectives with district public health goals.
The newly established Satellite Dental Health Centre at Khaag is expected to benefit thousands of residents by offering routine and emergency dental consultations,, Oral health education and awareness sessions, Preventive interventions such as fluoride applications and sealants, Referral linkages to GDCH Srinagar for advanced procedure, School-based outreach programs and community screening camps
Chief Guest, Advocate Saif Ud Din Bhat, Hon’ble MLA, Khansahib, District Budgam. In his address, emphasized that Public Health Dentistry (PHD) has emerged as a critical discipline in modern healthcare, shifting the focus from purely clinical, chairside treatment to population-wide prevention and health promotion. In today’s world—marked by rising non-communicable diseases, healthcare inequities, and resource constraints—PHD addresses several key challenges like , prevention over Intervention: PHD emphasizes oral hygiene education, dietary counseling, and early detection, reducing the burden of advanced dental diseases that require costly and complex care, reaching Underserved Populations: Rural and peri-urban areas, like Khaag and its adjoining regions, often lack access to private dental clinics. Satellite centres and mobile dental units—core PHD strategies—bridge this gap, Integrating Oral Health with General Health: Evidence increasingly links periodontal disease to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. PHD fosters cross-departmental collaboration (e.g., with SPM) to embed oral health into primary health care. Cost-Effectiveness for Health Systems: For every dollar spent on community-based prevention, significant savings are realized in restorative and emergency care. PHD aligns with universal health coverage principles by making essential services affordable and accessible. The Khaag Satellite Centre exemplifies these principles in action—transforming public health theory into community-level reality.
The initiative reflects a robust coordinated effort between the Department of Public Health Dentistry (GDCH Srinagar) and the Department of Community Medicine (GMC Srinagar) toward improving public health indicators and ensuring equitable healthcare access across District Budgam. The event concluded with reaffirmation of commitment by all stakeholders to strengthen community-oriented healthcare services and to replicate such models in other underserved blocks of the district.
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