The year 2021 has been proved to be a challenging year. Aside from the arrival of new COVID-19 variants and waves, rising inflation, businesses downfall, medical and dental colleges admissions hassles, Dental News have seen and organised some monumental moments and events in the face of the pandemic in Pakistan and among the dental fraternity.
We have seen several positive developments in 2021. However, Dental News reflects on some of the bigger stories you might probably know in the last 12 months.
Take a look!
January
The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) supported the early imposition of 'Tobacco Tax'
The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) urged the Ministry of Finance to lay Federal Health Levy Bill in parliament to impose a tax on tobacco and sugary drinks to boost revenues and prevent non-communicable diseases. In a letter to the Ministry of Finance, Dr Faisal Sultan, Prime Minister Imran Khan's Special Assistant on Health, stressed the need to impose a health tax of Rs10 per pack of 20 cigarettes and Rs 1 per 250 millilitres on carbonated drinks as approved by the federal cabinet on June 18, 2019.
February
Dental News hosted the largest virtual 3rd International Women's Dental Conference
With the vision to empower women in dentistry and create awareness among them of the potential that awaits them, Dental News launched the 3rd International Women's Dental Conference 2021 from 19th-20th February 2021. The conference's theme d' Rising impact of women in Dentistry', where speakers from the UK, Turkey, Lebanon, Texas, Costa Rica, Egypt and Pakistan presented their presentations.
PDA Gujranwala Welfare Complex became the first purpose-built structure owned by PDA
Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) Gujranwala Welfare Complex became the first purpose-built structure in Pakistan owned and registered in the name of PDA. This project has a worth of 22 Million PKR, all donated and raised by PDA Gujranwala members, members of PMA and leading philanthropist/industrialist of Gujranwala. The primary purpose of the building was to provide quality oral health services to the low socio-economic class of the society, so they didn't have to reach quack for their oral health needs.
March
Dental News organised the World Oral Health Day Campaign in Pakistan and created history by spreading 5.2 million smiles
In Pakistan, the World Oral Health Day 2021 was conducted by Dental News in collaboration with World Dental Federation (FDI) and Pakistan Dental Association (PDA), and in close association with Shield Pakistan, who sponsored the CSR activity. The highlight of the activity was the involvement of dental institutions and fraternities, who all came together to make it a success. The digital campaign bagged 5.2 million impressions, and the hashtag #WOHDPk #WOHD21 #MouthProud were trending on the panel within a minute of posting. It is a massive accomplishment of a team as the panel displays the most trending topics in Pakistan and is visible worldwide.
Dental News and PDA collaborated for the first World Oral Health Day virtual conference
First World Oral Health Day Virtual Conference was jointly organised by Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) and Dental News Pakistan in collaboration with the World Dental Federation (FDI) and Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF). The conference was virtual, and all plenary scientific sessions were online live-streamed to the national and international audience of the forum. The conference's theme was 'Be Proud of Your Mouth,' and speakers were from Australia, Canada, South Korea, and Pakistan presented their presentations.
April
The third COVID-19 wave hit Pakistan
Pakistan struggled to tackle the third wave of coronavirus infections, reporting close to 4,500 new cases in a day, the highest number of daily infections in the past nine months. The third coronavirus wave was largely being driven by a high number of cases in Punjab and the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The Pakistani government once again ordered educational institutes to remain closed until favourable situation and tightened restrictions.
Founder and Chairman of Medical News Group of Publications passed away
Ayaz Mahmood, the founder, publisher, and managing editor of Medical News breathed his last on March 17, 2021. He left behind a strong legacy that is difficult to match. A self-made man who started his career in advertising sales and then excelled at establishing a pioneering venture in Pakistan's first medical periodical, which heralded the era of medical journalism in the country.
May
President Arif Alvi and First Lady Samina Alvi paid condolence to the late Ayaz Mahmood's family
President Pakistan Dr Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi and First Lady of Pakistan, Mrs Samina Arif Alvi, visited Mr Hashim Hasan's residency to pay condolences to the family on the passing away of Mr Ayaz Mahmood, Chairman, Medical News Group of Publications and Dental News.
Prof. Syed Shah Faisal became the new President of the Pakistan Association of Orthodontists (PAO)
Prof Dr Syed Shah Faisal was elected as the new president of the Pakistan Association of Orthodontists (PAO). He was appointed under the elected council for the years 2021 and 2022. The new cabinet members also included Prof. Dr Hasnain Sakrani, Vice President, PAO, Prof. Dr Rozina Nazir, General Secretary, PAO and Dr Erum Behroz Khan, Finance Secretary, PAO.
Dr Shujah Adil became Sindh's first MDS postgraduate in Prosthodontics
Dr Shujah Adil Khan, who had been availing Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Prosthodontics from Dr Ishrat Ul Ibad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, defended his thesis successfully and earned the credit for becoming Sindh's first MDS postgraduate in Prosthodontics.
June
Pakistan was all set to host the Asia Pacific Dental Congress (APDC) 2022
Twenty-seven countries, comprising members of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF), selected Pakistan to host APDC 2022. The event is awarded to Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) through the untiring efforts of Dr Mahmood Shah, President of, Pakistan Dental Association, who was also elected again as Chairman of Oral Diseases Commission, APDF/APRO. The five-day-long mega event has been granted to Pakistan after seventeen long years.
Dr Mehmood Shah was elected as President and Prof. Nasir Ali Khan as new Vice-President at Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF)
Dr Mahmood Shah, President, Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) and Dr Nasir Ali Khan, Secretary-General, PDA, elected as President and Vice-President of Asia Pacific Dental Federation (APDF/APRO) at APDF Elections held during 42nd Asia Pacific Dental Congress (APDC) in Colombo, Srilanka.
July
AEEDC Dubai marked its 25 years of science and education with the world
The 25th edition of the UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition - AEEDC Dubai, the largest international annual scientific dental conference and exhibition in the world, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from June 29 till July 1, 2021.
AEEDC Dubai celebrating the 25 years of global success at its silver jubilee edition this year, had brought together more than 55,000 visitors and participants from 155 countries.
DRAP recovered a huge quantity of medicines stolen from NICVD, CHK
The National Task Force against Spurious Drugs of DRAP raided various shops and warehouses in the notorious Katchi Gali in District South as well as the Hussainabad area and seized a huge quantity of medicines stolen from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital.
Transparency International Pakistan recommended PMC cancel MDCAT due to a violation of PPRA rules
The Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) declared the tendering process of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) to conduct MDCAT as a complete violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and recommended to cancel and re-invite it. The TIP wrote a letter to PMC and mentioned violations of several PPRA rules in awarding the MDCAT contract to the private company allegedly established after the deadline of the advertisement.
August
DRAP cancelled the registration of conventional syringes
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) cancelled the registration of conventional syringes so that only single-use syringes would be available across the country. The restrictions on conventional syringes were taken into effect to stop the spread of novel coronavirus and HIV/AIDS.
China decided to provide 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by December 2021
China's Ambassador Nong Rong called on President Arif Alvi to convey that the country would provide 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistan by year-end. Both sides emphasised the need for making efforts to promote peace, prosperity, and development in the region.
September
Pakistan became the part of WHO's Solidarity PLUS clinical trial
Pakistan joined the Solidarity Plus clinical trials led by World Health Organization (WHO). The trial evaluated three drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 infections. It aimed to protect people from severe hospitalisation and death because of COVID-19.
Brig Azad Ali Azad received Sitara-e-Imtiaz
President Arif Alvi accorded Military awards to Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force officers and soldiers in the ceremony. Among them, Brig Azad Ali Azad, Army Medical College (AMC), Rawalpindi, was selected for Sitara-e-Imtiaz for manifesting excellence in the field of dentistry.
President Alvi led the inaugural ceremony of the PDA Dental Welfare Complex and ClearPath Mobile Dental Clinic
The inauguration ceremony for the PDA Dental Welfare Complex and ClearPath Mobile Dental Clinic in Gujranwala occurred at the Presidential House in Islamabad. Dr Hasan Bashir, President of Pakistan Dental Association (PDA), Gujranwala, briefed President Alvi about these new initiations.
Also, on this occasion, Dr Arif Alvi mentioned Dental News Pakistan as the national media for dentists and appreciated all those working for the profession.
October
Dr Mahmood Shah became a member of FDI's Public Health Committee
Dr Mahmood Shah, President, Pakistan Dental Association (PDA), had been elected for the Public Health Committee of FDI World Dental Organization during the FDI Virtual Dental Congress held in Sydney, Australia. He has become the first Pakistani dentist to be elected for this post.
Dr Ayyaz became a fellow of the Royal College of Glasgow
Dr Ayyaz Ali Khan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Institute of Advanced Dental Sciences and Research (IADSR), was admitted as a Dental Fellow (FDS) of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPS)(Glasg) after acquiring distinction as a dentist. He has been fulfilling his responsibilities as an Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pakistan Dental Association (JPDA).
AKUH won the 2021 World Oral Health Day Award for the 'Best Campaign by a Dental Practice or Clinic'
Every year, FDI gives out the World Oral Health Day Awards to recognise those who raise the most outstanding campaigns under the given theme. This year the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, won the 2021 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) Award for the 'Best Campaign by a Dental Practice or Clinic' under the theme titled "Be Proud of Your Mouth".
November
Pakistani dental researchers were ranked among the world's top 2 per cent of scientists
Ten Pakistani origin dental researchers featured in the top 100,000 International scientists list. The list was released by Stanford University, USA and published by Elsevier BV. These scientists had made notable research contributions in the year 2020.
DUHS granted its first PhD degree in dentistry to Dr Ambrina Qureshi
The Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, awarded its 1st PhD Degree in Dentistry to Prof. Dr Ambrina Qureshi in the speciality of Community Dentistry after the evaluation of her thesis from international reviewers and approval from the Boards of Advanced Sciences and Research, DUHS.
