Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), autonomous institute under the Delhi government, is set to become a dental university, chief minister Sheila Dixit announced on Tuesday. She said that the government is scouting for land for the campus so that MAIDS can be expanded into a full-fledged university.
However, the vacant land adjacent to the existing institute may be used for the expansion. Dikshit was speaking at the institute when she unveiled the statue of Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, in the premises. Expansion plan includes a forensic dental laboratory in the institute. There are around nine departments, all of which are likely to be given a facelift by adding more staff and space to them as currently the institute faces an acute shortage of staff and space in proportion to the number of patients it treats. In financial year 2011-2012, MAIDS saw a footfall of close to 2.5 lakh patients. Dikshit also announced to give more emphasis on the research.
Speaking about the statue of Hippocrates, who lived from 460 BC to 377 BC and is known for emphasis on the concept of “holistic medicine”, Dr Mahesh Verma, director-principle, MAIDS, said, “In the times when several unethical practices have infiltrated the medical profession, this statue should remind everyone of its values. He formulated a set of ethics for the medical practioners at a hospital — known as Hippocratic Oath — that all of us take (customarily before becoming doctors).” He added that this is perhaps the first non-Indian hero whose statue has been erected.
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