Guarantees sought for public dentistry patients

Eight peak health organisations have called on the Federal Government to guarantee its commitment to timely and continued funding for adult public dental health services.

They fear that $390 million for public dental care will not be available in 2014/15 because of National Partnership Agreements ending and being deferred.

The organisations say that good oral health is essential for general health and the failure to deliver on promised investment in public dental services would set back recent progress in narrowing the gap between privileged Australians and those in hardship.

The concerned bodies are the Public Health Association of Australia, Australian Health Care Reform Alliance, Australian Dental Association, Dental Hygienists Association of Australia, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, Australian Council of Social Service, Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists’ Association and National Rural Health Alliance.