KARACHI, July 13: The dentistry department of the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) is the first public sector hospital in the country to have an updated laser dental facility.

Head of the department, Prof Mushtaq Ahmed, told APP that under its ongoing renovation programme the department was about to have another laser unit specifically meant to treat oral cancer cases not available in any other government health-care centre.

“These modern facilities are essential in view of the of growing incidence of oral cancer in Pakistan”, the dental surgeon said.

Dr Mushtaq sought to dispel fears regarding dental drilling, root canal and tooth extraction without anaesthesia.

According to him a budgetary allocation of Rs14 million against a request for Rs20 million during the fiscal year 2002-2003 has helped the department to initiate a massive renovation, and currently some eight dental units are simultaneously operating at the department equipped with modern gadgets.—APP