Dental surgeons who have been working in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) on a temporary basis for 15 to 20 years, receiving a consolidated pay of ₹34,000, are demanding permanent jobs.
The Doctors’ Association for Social Equality, and Tamil Nadu PHC Dental Surgeons’ Association said, as per Indian Public Health Standards, each district headquarters hospital should have three dentists, taluk/non-taluk hospital must have two dentists, and each PHC, one dentist.
Based on this criterion, government hospitals under the Directorates of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine, and Medical and Rural Health Services should have over 3,000 dentists. However, only one-third of the required strength are currently employed, and over half of them have been hired on a contract basis.
At present, the State has nearly 478 permanent dental surgeons, while 544 dental surgeons are working on contract for a paltry salary, the association said in a press release.
In 2004, the DPH fixed a daily wage of ₹500 for dental surgeons. In 2009, they were brought under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Tamil Nadu. They have been working as temporary staff for the past 20 years. Among them, 20 have completed 20 years of service, 60 have completed 15 years, and 154 have completed 10 years.
Their consolidated salary is ₹34,000, while those who have completed 20 years of service receive ₹42,000. In contrast, the entry-level pay for dental surgeons in Delhi is ₹71,550, and those in Madhya Pradesh receive ₹56,100, they said.
A Government Order issued in 2016 to regularise contractual doctors and dental surgeons through a special qualifying examination has not been implemented to date. Since 2013, 7,636 MBBS doctors have been appointed through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB), while only 166 BDS dental surgeons have been appointed to permanent posts.
They urge the State government to conduct a special MRB qualifying examination to provide permanent appointments, and to increase their salaries to ensure “equal pay for equal work”. They also demand job security, paid weekly offs, medical leave, and maternity benefits, and request the government to stop recruiting dental surgeons on contract basis.
To press these demands, the associations have decided to stage a hunger strike in Chennai on Sunday.
Published – December 27, 2025 11:22 pm IST
