The CDPL inaugural meeting was hosted in Antigua in June 2003. We took the initiative to invite representatives from all of the English speaking Caribbean countries to attend and meet with representatives of the University of the West Indies. I have pleasure in enclosing the minutes of that meeting from which proactive resolutions were adopted to improve the status of dentistry prior to the implementation of the Caribbean Single Market & Economy (CSME) in 2004. It is the hope of all who attended the meeting, that the CARICOM Health Desk's must share a pivotal role in making this a reality. We would like to ensure that with the free movement of Caribbean personnel, safety of our Caribbean people must be a priority. It is hoped that these resolutions will therefore become an agenda item at future CARICOM meetings and assist with implementing our proposals to the benefit of our population. It is believed that the respective Ministers/Ministries of Health, Heads of Governments, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and any other agency that can/will assist in achieving the goals of public safety, accreditation and standardisation of dental professional and the implementation of a Caribbean Dental Council will assist in undertaking and supervising the programme to ensure the required goals are achieved.
Dr. Victor H. Eastmond in conjunction with his partner, Dr. Soumi SenGupta, Directors of Caribbean Dental Programs Ltd. (CDPL), facilitated this meeting between the University and the Dental Profession at CDPL's Inaugural Convention on Wednesday, 18th June 2003 at 2.00 p.m.
ADENDA
Meeting with UWI Dental School, Regional Councils & CDO's
- 2.45 - 2.30 P.M. Welcome By Chairman, Dr. Anthony Lewis, Inaugural President of CARDA and Chief Dental Officer (CDO) of Jamaica
- 2.30 - 2.45 P.M. Presentation by Dr. P.R. Murti, the Ag. Director of the UWI Dental School.
- 2.45 - 3.15 P.M. Presentations by Regional Dental Councils & CDO's.
- 3.15 - 3.45 P.M. Defining Goals and Objectives for The Caribbean Dental Profession re. Registration, Accreditation and Postgraduate Education in light of the ratified CARICOM Freedom of Movement Convention.
- 3.45 - 4.15 P.M. Recommendations For Achieving The Required Goals and Objectives and need for a Caribbean Regional Dental Council.
- 4.15 P.M. Any Other Business
Objectives
Members of the profession who attended this meeting were aware that the General Dental Council of the United Kingdom are no longer permitted to undertake the monitoring of external accreditation for dental schools outside of Europe. The objective of this meeting is to discuss and hopefully resolve the matter to facilitate accreditation of the dental programme provided by the University of The West Indies School of Dentistry so that Caribbean Dental Councils will be better able to execute its mandate.
1. Accreditation. - Recognition of an educational institution, which meets defined standards. It is recognised that there is a need to ensure for the sole Caribbean tertiary English-speaking dental faculty acquires such a standard.
2. Dental Councils. -The Councils' main duty is to ensure that all practising members of the dental profession will practice the art of dentistry safely on members of the public. The right for persons to practice the profession of dentistry is regulated by Dental Councils.
3. Dental Registration. - Councils regulate Dental Practitioners. They can only practice after gaining legal registration by Council and on payment of a prescribed fee to have their name placed on a Register. This policy ensure that dentists whose names are placed on the "Register", have met defined standards through attendance of a programme accredited by Council or, failing to provide proof of such attendance, passing of a proficiency examination as mandated by Council.
The methodology by which this objective can be achieved should be discussed with members of the profession.
Present
There was approximately twenty five persons present but representatives were:
- Dr. Anthony Lewis. Chairman of the meeting and Inaugural President of the Caribbean Atlantic Regional Dental Association (CARDA).
- Dr. Mark Edwards. Chairman of the Dental Council (Jamaica).
- Dr. Ronald Ramsay. Chairman of the Dental Council (Barbados).
- Mrs. Marie J. Harvey. President of Canadian Dental Assistants' Association (CDAA).
- Mrs. Lucia Phillips. Immediate Past president of the Barbados Association of Dental Axillaries.
- Dr. Victor Eastmond. Immediate Past President of the Commonwealth Dental Association.
- Dr. Joanes Jean. Chief Dental Officer of Guyana.
- Dr. Jennifer Bulkan. Registrar of Dental Council (Guyana)
- Dr. Cyril Robinson. Chief Dental Officer of Dominica.
- Dr. Joyous Pickstock. Chief Dental Officer of Bahamas.
- Dr. William Smith. Lecturer in restorative Dentistry at UWI Dental School
- Dr. P. R. Murti. Director (Ag.) UWI Dental School.
- Dr. J. Ebenezer Scipio. Senior Lecturer, UWI Dental School.
- Dr. H. Al-Bayaty. Senior Lecturer, UWI Dental School.
- Mrs. Georgette Beaulieu. Immediate Past President CDAA
- Dr Andy Miles. Member of Dental Council (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Dr. Nancy Boodhoo. Caribbean Representative of Dental Protection Ltd.
- Dr. Chandi Revana. Dental Officer, Turks ands Caicos Islands.
- Dr. Juanna Osborne. Oral Surgeon, St. Vincent
- Mr. Peter Whickham. UWI graduate. Journalist and guest of the meeting
Introduction
Dr. Lewis welcomed the gathering to this historic occasion and requested that the meeting be constructive to achieve improvements in the Caribbean dental status. He invited the members of the University of the West Indies to address the forum.
Dr. P. Murti, Director (Ag) of the UWI Dental School, first introduced the members of the University who were present and explained that each of them will give a a presentation directed at specific areas. He gave a historical perspective from 1989 when the school started. There has been a regular change over of deans and this resulted in instability within the centre in relation to staff and curriculum. He felt that at this stage of its history, there were great improvements with an increase in teaching staff, some of who were UWI dental school graduates.
Dr. Al-Bayaty followed by Dr. Scipio and Smith were invited to make their presentation, which also demonstrated the improvements within the last five years. There was admission to reviews being done by independent bodies and the general dental council of the UK, which found the university lacking in some areas. These areas of deficiencies were addressed and it was for this reason that the school's improvements were now being demonstrated. After qualification, the graduates were permitted to be registered under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) to practice in their republic.
Resolutions
It was agreed that the following resolutions be adopted:
- That since Governments do not necessarily understand the needs and working of a profession, it is advised that such dental duties be delegated to "Dental Councils" for the regulation of the dental profession.
- That Dental Councils, which now act as an "Executive Arm" of Governments, must overseer policies that contributes to the improvement of oral health free of any danger.
- That Dental Councils need the assistance and cooperation of various sectors such as the dental professions (represented by associations).
- That Governments recognise Dental Councils do not have the means to educate and train members of the profession.
- That governments delegate the task of education and training to two areas, the university and dental hospitals.
- That Education and training cannot take place in a vacuum or in an ad-hoc or independent manner.
- That Education and training should reflect the needs and demands of the population as epitomised by the policies of the Governments and enacted through the Dental Councils.
- That while the training roles are undertaken by the Hospital and University, the Dental Councils must overseer the process.
- That Dental Councils can play its part in a cohesive manner by regular inspection of the facilities; inspecting and visiting the institution during teaching; and participating during examinations to ensure the defined standards of Council are met. This situation is consistent with the UK model.
- Alternatively, that Dental Councils can play its part by having a separate dental council exam to ensure the defined standards of Council are met. This situation is consistent with the U.S. model where graduates have to take "Board" exams irrespective of where they qualified.
- That since the UWI is a Regional Caribbean Institution, it would be expedient to have a Regional Dental Council, which works cohesively with, the University and the Dental Hospital to ensure graduates meet the defined standards.
- That the proposed relationship between a Regional Council, the University and the Dental Hospital will be conducive for the Regional Council to grant its own accreditation provided the defined standards are met. This situation is consistent with the UK model.
- That the model be expanded to include all ancillary branches of the dental profession with a provision that there be a path for promotion (elevation) within the framework i.e. that a hygienist, technician or therapist be provided with the opportunity to enter the Dental Programme after a stipulated time of experience.
- That all Regional Dental Councils or their national representative be invited to meet in Trinidad to discuss the education, training and accreditation of Caribbean graduates
- It is imperative that the three main examining bodies i.e. the Examination Boards for Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad meet in Trinidad with a view to agreement on a single format of the examination.
- That the Jamaica and Barbados Dental Councils host their examinations at the UWI dental school (possibly in April, 2004) for the benefit of their graduating nationals.
- That the Councils, when they meet in Trinidad (again possibly in April, 2004) discuss their role in the UWI final examinations to evaluate whether a greater involvement in the latter may exempt a candidate from the written part of the council's examinations in the first instance.
- That the Councils propose an involvement in the UWI examinations process to determine whether the candidates may be exempt from the clinical part of the council's examinations.
- That the long term goal would be accreditation of the Dental School regionally so that a candidate graduating from UWI's dental school would be able to practice in any Caribbean island without having to sit any regulatory examination.
- That in light of the pending implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), the profession must become proactive to ensure its standards are upgraded with recognition at a REGIONAL rather than a NATIONAL level. This will involve the participation of the regional institution.
These proposals were formulated at a separate meeting on 18th June 2003. The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Lucia Philips and recorded by Mrs. Heather Maynard both of whom are doubly qualified as certified "New Zealand type" dental therapists and also as certified dental hygienists. Mrs. Marie Harvey, President of the Canadian Dental Assistants' Association (CDAA), and the immediate past President of CDAA, Mrs. Georgette Beaulieu, attended the meeting along with other Caribbean auxiliaries.
ADENDA
Meeting Of Dental Auxiliaries
Venue - Jolly Beach Resort Antigua.
- 2.45 - 2.30 P. Welcome By Chairperson, Mrs. Lucia Phillips, Inaugural President of Barbados Association Of Dental Auxiliaries (BADA)
- 2.30 - 3.00P.M. Presentations by Regional Auxiliaries.
- 3.45 P.M. Defining Goals and Objectives for The Caribbean Dental Auxiliaries.
- 3.45 - 4.15 P.M. Recommendations For Achieving The Required Goals and Objectives.
- 4.15 P.M. Any Other Business
THIS CARIBBEAN DENTAL AUXILIARIES' MEETING RESOLVED:
- That all dental Auxiliaries must be formally trained.
- That courses for each auxiliary discipline be implemented and accredited through collaboration with UWI and other educational facilities.
- That such courses must provide a special programme of prior learning assessment that will upgrade skills to the required standards of practice. This is most pertinent for assistants presently working without formal training.
- That all dental auxiliaries are licensed with compulsory criteria to assure ethics through membership into the proposed Caribbean Association of Dental Auxiliaries (CADA).
- That each separate auxiliary discipline attains respect, consideration and inclusion as a valued member of the Dental Team.
- That there must be standardisation of nomenclature for respective disciplines e.g. Dental Auxiliaries, Dental Nurses, Dental Therapist, Dental Assistants, Auxiliary Dental Officer, etc.
- That all members of the dental team must acquire credits from continuing education sessions as a prerequisite for annual re-registration.
- That compulsory continuing education programmes be instituted.
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