Australian Dentists Anxious Over Future of Children’s Dental Programme

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Representatives from the Australian Dental Association have expressed concern at the future of a multi-billion dollar dental programme, which has provided around one million children with free dental care over the last two years.

Dentists are worried that the scheme, which was introduced at a cost of $2.7 billion in 2014, will be scrapped in the next budget. Sussan Ley, health minister, warned that the project, which was supposed to reach around 3 million children, was not the most effective use of state funds.

Ms Ley’s speech triggered widespread concern in the dental industry. However, a spokesperson has since suggested that the minister was merely pointing out that there may be a more effective way to deliver dental care in middle and low income families. A spokesman also added that the government was considering measures to improve standards of oral health and was committed to preventing problems such as decay in a bid to save money in the long-term.

As part of the current scheme, each eligible child receives up to $1,000 worth of dental treatment over a two year period. Auditors have discovered that only around 30 percent of children have used the programme and this has contributed to an under spend of around $300 million in the first 18 month period.

Rick Olive, from the Australian Dental Association, has encouraged families to express their support for the programme and make use of their child’s treatment quota.

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