Irish patients lose out on 3.5 million Euros worth of dental care
Statistics have shown that patients in Ireland have lost out on 3.5 million Euros worth of dental care in comparison to last year. The figures showed that state spending on dental care had fallen from 15.1 million Euros for the first three month period of the year in 2009, to 11.5 million Euros this year.
The decrease in state spending is a measure to cut the overall government deficit in the light of the recession and subsequent economic troubles; just a few weeks ago Irish health ministers announced that cuts would have to be made so that the government could stick to a tight budget.
The cutbacks affected patients that benefit from the PRSI scheme; previously, these patients were entitled to free scale and polish treatment and reduced rates for treatments including extractions and fillings. Now, as a result of the budget cuts, PRSI patients must pay full price for all treatments except routine check-ups, which remain free of charge. Subsidised dental care was available for all those earning under 65,000 Euros.
Some people that have PRSI also have medical cards, which may still entitle them to free dental treatments; however, the medical card services are also being cut and dentists have now been instructed to offer only emergency treatment to those with medical cards.
Following the enforcement of budget cuts, patients are now facing rising dental costs; some dentists have frozen their prices but many are now charging up to 100 Euros for a filling and at least 80 Euros for a scale and polish treatment.
Since the cuts came into place, dentists have reported a decrease in the number of patients they are seeing; two thirds reported a decrease, while 35 percent said there had been a considerable drop in numbers. The Irish Dental Association has urged ministers to reconsider the cuts and is set to meet with the Social Protection Minister in the near future; however, ministers say there is no chance of a policy reversal.
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