New Delhi : Dr Sunita Sharma has officially assumed charge as the new President of the Dental Council of India (DCI), succeeding Prof (Dr) Atul Goel, as per a directive from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The announcement was made through a circular issued on May 1, 2025, by Mukesh Kumar, Secretary Incharge of the DCI. Dr Sharma, who currently serves as the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), will hold the post in an officiating capacity until the formation of the National Dental Commission or further orders from the government.
According to a government order dated April 15, 2025, Dr Sharma was designated as Director General of Indian Health Services (DGIIS), effective April 28, from which date she also began serving as DCI President.
She previously held the position of Additional DGHS under the Teaching Sub-Cadre of the Central Health Services (CHS). Notably, the Ministry clarified that no additional salary or remuneration will be granted for her new responsibilities, which are being discharged in an officiating role.
Leadership Transition
Dr Sharma replaces Prof (Dr) Atul Goel, who had assumed the DCI presidency in February 2025. Before him, Dr Satheesh Kumar Reddy, Director and Consultant at FMS Dental Hospital, had been serving as Acting President following the end of Dr Dibyendu Mazumder’s term on November 28, 2024.
The Health Ministry’s circular reiterated that Dr Sharma’s tenure as DCI President is linked to the pending constitution of the National Dental Commission — a body expected to replace the current regulatory structure for dental education and practice in India.
