Dental care in Brumby's national health proposal

Victoria’s Premier, Mr Brumby, has offered an alternative strategy to the Federal Government’s hospital funding proposal as well as stressing the importance of dental care.

Under the Brumby plan, hospital funding would be shared 50-50 between Canberra and the states, instead of the 60-40 model proposed by Prime Minister Rudd.

Mr Brumby said his plan would deliver $1.2 billion more to Victoria's health system next year. States would be responsible for the planning and delivery of health services.

The 32-page Victorian proposal makes a brief reference to dental care. The document says that “there has been no discussion of dental health reforms in the current national debate”. Victoria “supports COAG negotiating a new National Partnership Agreement to improve public dental care”.

Victoria recommends implementing the Commonwealth Dental Health Program as a National Partnership with $152 million funding to States over five years. The document states: “This program can be funded with savings from a modified Medicare Benefits Schedule chronic disease dental scheme. Ongoing capital investments, such as dental chairs in community health facilities, are also needed to attract dentists and meet demand across regional Australia”.