571. Dentists: authorities are more willing to take action against illegal

The chairman of the Dental Association says that one can not speak of an increase in cases of illegal practice, but a greater willingness to act of the competent authorities, advances the agency Lusa. In reaction to the condemnation, known on Friday, the owners (one dentist and a medical cardiologist) three unlicensed dental clinics in the counties of Olhão, Loulé and Tavira, Orlando Monteiro recalls, told Lusa that there are already quite time who register many situations of hiding in the area of dentistry.

What have been highlights, is a greater capacity for action of the authorities and coordination of the various entities together. Since the beginning of 2011, were made over a hundred inspections, usually resulting from complaints or complaints of users and professionals, which has led to the suspension of 28 clinics and dental, refers the president.

Orlando Monteiro said that the case of the dentist sentenced on Friday is being assessed by the board of ethics and discipline, which may order the suspension or expulsion. The owners of the three dental clinics closed in Algarve in April 2011 were sentenced to suspended sentences for aiding and raising hand labor illegal, counterfeit documents and usurpation of functions. The investigation began in September 2010, for evidence that the couple recruited foreign workers through advertisements posted on the internet pages in Portuguese and Brazilian.

Recruited foreigners came to Portugal to work as dentists dental clinics in three unlicensed and property of the defendants, in the municipalities of Olhão, Loulé and Tavira. The couple helped the workers to enter the country illegally, putting them to practice dentistry without the required qualifications.

The chairman of dentists praises the speed of justice, noting that there already is quite reasonable for a sentence surveys made ​​in November 2010. Stressing that the relationship between the various entities - Aliens and Borders Regulatory Authority of Health and Dental Association - is not always easy, the president notes the steps in the right direction that have allowed detecting this kind of situations. However, alert, despite the suspension of operation, illegal these clinics often reopen with different names. It happened in the case of three clinics in the Algarve, in which the owners now condemned, reopened elsewhere, reports.

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Very positive and effective action by the competent authorities. However, these actions should be accompanied by other measures, particularly considering the current economic situation of the country and that constitute the Algarve tourist destination. Combat the illegal practice of dentistry is obligatory duty of the competent authorities; provide oral health care to the population is obligatory duty of the Ministry of Health should provide a network for the provision of oral health care, preventive and continued in health centers and central hospitals. Only then is it possible to fight the illegal supply of oral health care.

The current economic crisis requires urgent action to support the poor. It is necessary to provide the country with oral health professionals highly competent and are more responsive to the real needs of the country; combating illegality in providing oral health care is also a preventive manner, valuing social interventions to support the community and giving training opportunities for professionals who need to stay with the skills necessary to practice their profession.

It is also very urgent that the Portuguese authorities to establish bilateral agreements governing immigration and emigration of oral health professionals, notably with countries outside the European Union. The humanitarian side of these professionals should be respected, whether it be Brazilian citizens wishing to practice in Portugal, whether Portuguese citizens who wish to exercise the profession in the United Kingdom. To all of them it requires equal treatment and opportunities for both training and career. Only then can defend and enhance the exercise of professions related to dentistry and the provision of oral health care.

Another aspect to value will be the joint work of all organizations involved in the provision of oral health care, only a joint effort between the Ministry of Health, Directorate - General Health and all the professional associations and academic and dental care oral health can achieve positive results and for the benefit of the entire population.