The Jammu and Kashmir government today admitted in the Legislative Assembly that more than 5,700 qualified dental surgeons remain unemployed across the Union Territory, highlighting a growing crisis among BDS and MDS graduates.
In a written reply tabled by MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the Health & Medical Education Minister informed that approximately 5,753 registered dental surgeons are currently without government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government acknowledged the seriousness of unemployment among dental professionals but said that the creation of new posts would depend on actual requirements, financial feasibility, and established norms.
Adding to the concern of unemployed graduates, the government disclosed that there are already surplus dental surgeons working in the health system, with 198 temporary posts created earlier—61 in Jammu division and 137 in Kashmir division—to accommodate excess manpower.
The reply further revealed that employment opportunities remain extremely limited, as most sanctioned posts are already filled. At the District Hospital level, there are no vacancies, while only one vacancy exists at the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) level. No dental surgeon posts exist at sub-centres.
The government also ruled out introducing a special employment scheme like Rehbar-e-Sehat for dental surgeons, stating that recruitment in the health sector must follow established service rules, IPHS norms, and financial sustainability considerations.
The disclosure highlights a widening gap between the rising number of dental graduates and limited government job opportunities, leaving thousands of qualified BDS professionals struggling for employment in the Union Territory.