Meanwhile, Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Rishad Seecheran, has announced funding for new dental equipment across several Regional Health Authorities.
“$2,707,000 Mr speaker this will include, four dental imaging systems, 28 high speed dental hand pieces, 1 autoclave, 26 wall mounted x-ray units, 3 dental chairs as well as 28 slow speed hand pieces, Mr speaker.”
The Minister also announced the reinstatement of a monthly stipend for dental interns, addressing concerns about the financial burden faced by graduates during their vocational training, as they transition from University training to professional registration.
“We were able to reinstitute a stipend to the dental interns in the latest cohort. Mr. Speaker, these interns will now get a monthly stipend of $9,500. And what they will do, Mr. Speaker, is over the 12-month period, they will pay the University of the West Indies the fee that they require in order to do their vocational training.”