Section 10 - National Dental Commission Act, 2023

The National Dental Commission Act, 2023

10. Powers and functions of Commission.-

(1) The Commission shall, for ensuring coordinated and integrated development of education and maintenance of the standards of delivery of services, take all such steps, as it may think fit, and revise the same periodically, as may be specified by regulations.

(2) The Commission shall perform the following functions, namely:-

(a) lay down policies and regulate standards for the governance of dental education, examination and training and make necessary regulations in this behalf;

(b) promote adoption of additional degrees or diplomas, higher qualifications, including certification courses and development of soft skills for advancement of career of the dentists and dental auxiliaries;

(c) regulate dental institutions, dental researches, dentists and dental auxiliaries and make necessary regulations in this behalf;

(d) ensure that all admissions to undergraduate dental course, namely, Bachelor of Dental Surgery in all dental institutions which are governed by the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force, shall be through National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test conducted under section 14 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (30 of 2019);

(e) to identify and regulate any other category of dental auxiliaries;

(f) to collaborate with industry and institutions for use of cutting-edge technology and hybrid education to drive innovation and research in the field of dental education and examinations and make necessary regulations in this behalf;

(g) assess the requirements in dental healthcare, including human resources for dental health, career progression of dentists and dental auxiliaries and healthcare infrastructure and develop a road map for meeting such requirements;

(h) promote, coordinate and frame guidelines and lay down policies by making necessary regulations for the proper functioning of the Commission, the Autonomous Boards, the Dental Advisory Council, the State Dental Councils and the Joint Dental Councils;

(i) ensure coordination among the Autonomous Boards;

(j) take such measures, as may be necessary, to ensure compliance by the State Dental Councils of the guidelines framed and regulations made under this Act for their effective functioning under this Act;

(k) exercise appellate jurisdiction with respect to the decisions of the Autonomous Boards;

(l) promote preventive dental care services;

(m) lay down policies and codes to ensure observance of professional ethics in dental profession and to promote ethical conduct during the provision of care by dentists;

(n) frame guidelines for determination of fees and all other charges in respect of fifty per cent. of seats in private dental institutions and deemed to be Universities which are governed under the provisions of this Act;

(o) take measures to enhance skills and competency of registered professionals for facilitating global mobility;

(p) exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

(3) The Commission may delegate such of its functions (except the power to make regulations) to the Autonomous Boards as it may deem necessary.

(4) The Commission may give such directions, as may deem necessary, to a State Council for carrying out all or any of the provisions of this Act and the State Council shall comply with such directions.

(5) All orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by the signature of the Secretary.

(6) The Commission may delegate such of its powers of administrative and financial matters, as it deems fit, to the Secretary.

(7) The Commission may constitute sub-committees and delegate such of its powers to such sub-committees as may be necessary to enable them to accomplish specific tasks.