DENTISTS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

5.36 p.m.

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Govindasamy, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill to amend the Dentists Registration Act (Chapter 215 of the 1970 Revised Edition) has been deliberately brought up at the same time as the amendments to the Medical Registration Act which the House has already considered. The principles underlying the proposed amendments are similar to those which were made in the amendments to the Medical Registration Act. Accordingly, it will not be necessary for me to describe the amendments in such great detail nor to advance again the reasons which were argued in the debate on the corresponding amendments in the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill.

The principal amendments to the Dentists Registration Act fall into two parts:

(i) on membership of the Dental Board; and

(ii) on registrable dental degrees and the method of registration of those who do not possess registrable dental degrees.

On membership of the Dental Board: As in the case of the Medical Council, the Dental Board suffered a reduction in the number of its members when Singapore separated from Malaysia. From a membership totalling 11, this was reduced to only seven in 1965 when the four Malaysian members ceased membership on Singapore's separation.

It has been found in practice that the membership of seven is rather too small a group. In order to make it more workable, the amendments proposed will increase the membership to nine. It is proposed to bring about this increase by increasing the nomination from the Dental Association from one to two dental surgeons practising in Singapore, and for the Minister to appoint another dental officer in the public service of Singapore. In this way the balance of members between those nominated by the Minister and those by the Association is preserved.

It will be noted that the Dental Board consists entirely of appointed or nominated persons. Unlike the Medical Council there are no elected members to the Board. If the composition of the Dental Board is approved by acceptance of the proposed amendments, it will then consist of the following:

(i) the Director of Medical Services;

(ii) the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry;

(iii) the Assistant Director of Medical Services (Dental);

(iv) two dental officers in the public service appointed by the Minister;

(v) a dental surgeon nominated by the Faculty of Dentistry;

(vi) two dental surgeons nominated by the Singapore Dental Association;

(vii) a registered dentist nominated by the Registered Dental Association.

On registrable degrees: As has been similarly proposed for medical registration, it is proposed to adopt a list of recognised dental degrees whereby persons in possession of such degrees may be entitled to be registered as practising dental surgeons.

Under the existing provisions of the Dentists Registration Act (Chapter 215 of the 1970 Revised Edition), the recognised degrees are those who hold a degree, diploma or licence in dental surgery of the King Edward VII College of Medicine or the University of Singapore, as well as those dental qualifications which are recognised by the General Dental Council of the United Kingdom.

As explained in the debate on the amendments to the Medical Registration Act, the adoption of somebody else's list of recognised qualifications not only has its inherent defects but is also not in keeping with our independent status and national needs. Accordingly it is proposed in the amendments to follow the same device as that for the Medical Registration Act, which is to adopt a local list of dental qualifications which can be recognised. The amendments also provide, as in the case of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill, that this list can be varied by additions or deletions made from time to time by order of the Minister after he has consulted the Dental Board.

Initially this list of registrable dental qualifications will be the same list as has been adopted by the General Dental Council of the United Kingdom. It will be noted that this is a comparatively shorter list than the list of recognised medical qualifications. There are also no controversial issues here by way of additions or deletions which have to be explained, as was in the case of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill.

Again as in the case of the amendments to the Medical Registration Act, it is essential that provision be made to deal with those cases where a person may be holding dental qualifications which are not on the list of approved dental qualifications. In such cases it is provided for the Minister to make an order for the person's registration after he has consulted the Dental Board.

Before advising the Minister, should the Dental Board be unable to decide on the standard of the applicant, the Dental Board may require the applicant to undergo and to pass an examination. As explained in the debate on the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill, this would be a more objective way of assessing the applicant's standard and competence than from the papers submitted.

Mr Govindasamy, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Chua Sian Chin].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.