Budget cuts in Ireland cost patients more than 12 million pounds
Cuts in the dental budget have cost patients more than 12 million pounds worth of dental care so far this year, it has been revealed.
The figures, which have been obtained by the Irish Independent, show that government spending on dental care has fallen significantly to 17.8 million Euros this year; this means the Irish people would have paid 12 million pounds if they had the same dental treatments they had last year. The cuts affected holders of the PRSI cards; previously, they had been entitled to free check-ups and reduced rate treatments. PRSI card holders are now only entitled to free check-ups and are being forced to pay top-rate prices for routine treatments.
The cuts, which were introduced in January, were announced as an essential means of cutting the government deficit; however, the people of Ireland and dentist across the country were outraged and are continuing to campaign against the cuts.
The Irish Dental Association is urging health ministers to reconsider the arrangements, saying that the cuts have forced patients to go without the treatment they need, due to unaffordable costs. Dentists say that dental care has taken a huge step backwards in Ireland and standards of oral health in the country are consequently bound to fall over the course of the coming years.
Patients are also angry about cuts in dental care; they are still contributing to the PRSI scheme, yet receiving very little in return. Since the cuts were brought in, the number of patients going across the border to Northern Ireland and further afield to other European countries for dental treatment has increased rapidly, as patients look to save money.
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