It is expected to start in May preventive dental care program for children from 6 to 12 years old with free visits to dentists. This is the first step towards universal access to dental care, a goal also set by World Health Organization (WHO) with a schedule in 2030 – and which currently in the vast majority of cases depends on the financial capabilities of each citizen, since the few services in medical centers YOU not enough.

The road to the implementation of the dentist’s pass was opened last Friday by the publication of a ministerial decision on the conditions for issuing it. According to her, dentist pass in the amount of 40 euros is provided for each child aged 6 to 12 (children born in 2011-2016) who AMCA or the foreigner’s temporary insurance and health care number. The dentist’s subscription concerns preventive services and includes an examination oral hygienecleaning and removal of plaque, fluoridation and instruction in children’s oral hygiene.

The allowance is received on behalf of the child by an adult natural person exercising parental custody or guardianship or guardianship, and the corresponding application is submitted through an electronic platform using the AMCA and Taxisnet or through CEP.

The program comes after a period in which, mainly due to the financial crisis and to a lesser extent the pandemic, the cost of dental care has plummeted. The data that he presented last Thursday at his online conference are indicative. WHERE European Council on Oral Health Aristomeni I. Singelakis, President-Elect of the European Council for Dental Policy: between 2008 and 2021, spending on dental care in our country decreased by 71.7%, namely from 2085 billion euros in 2008 to 591.9 million euros in 2021.

The vast majority of these amounts relate to private payments, since public spending is already minimal (only 14.9 million euros) and has been zero during this time. According to the OECD, in Greece the share of government participation in total spending dental care is 0%, when the EU average is 31%. As a result, 7.8% of the Greek population state (Eurostat 2023) that they have not visited a dentist in the last 12 months, although they needed one. This percentage is more than double the EU average. (3.1%) and third after Portugal (9%) and Latvia (8.2%).

It is expected that part of the shortfall will be covered by the preventive dental care program for children aged 6 to 12.

As Mr. Singelakis points out in “K”, “Poor oral health affects overall health and quality of life, while placing a burden on household finances and health care systems. Therefore, dental care is not a luxury, but a necessity. However, over time, it turns out to be an abandoned state. Significantly, during the financial crisis and pandemic, government spending on dentistry has been leveled, NHS dental services have been contracted out, and citizens are being asked to cover the full cost of dental care. Inevitably, inequalities have worsened and the oral health of the population has deteriorated.”

In May 2022, WHO released a draft recommendation for an oral hygiene strategy. Among them is the proposal of the Greek government on the item on oral health. This refers to a guaranteed percentage of public health spending that will go towards oral health. It is worth noting that if in our country this percentage is set at 1%, then this will mean more than 100 million euros per year.

“Within the WHO guidelines, Greece should get a national strategy with universal access, transition to prevention and adequate public funding,” notes Mr. Singelakis and continues that “the introduction of the oral health clause adds resources, without canceling the fiscal country policy. However, it is necessary to give priority to oral health, as defined by current scientific evidence and confirmed by the consistency and documentation of the Hellenic Dental Federation.

Recent interventions such as a dentist pass, mobile medical teams with a dentist, infrastructure improvements with European funds, and the re-establishment of the National Oral Health Committee are undoubtedly positive, but not enough. Adequate and stable public funding is required.”