At the same time as the dentist check distribution program is being extended, another of the Government's promises, which goes on to integrate dentists into primary health care, is slowly advancing - at the end of last year, 55 health centers of the country, they already had dental clinics available. But the Government's goal is more ambitious: by the end of 2019, it is intended that all groups of health centers (ACES) have at least one dentist, according to announced in March the Assistant Secretary of State and Health, Fernando Araújo. This year, he specified, more than half of the [dentists] who are missing will be placed and the rest will start working at the National Health Service (NHS) in the first half of 2019.
By the end of 2017, there were 24 ACES that had dental consultations, less than half of the country's total clusters, in a project that started in the third quarter of 2016, with pilot experiments in 13 Alentejo and Lisbon health centers and Tagus Valley. Last year, this project was extended and, throughout the country, in December, there were dental consultations in 60 oral health offices of 55 health centers. The regions of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (26) and North (22) were the ones with the most oral health offices, followed by Centro (six), Alentejo and Algarve (with three offices each).
Project at an embryonic stage - This project, synthesized by Paulo Melo, president of the general council of the Order of Dentists (OMD), is in an embryonic phase. The health centers have a dentist and a dental assistant, who perform basic treatments, such as tooth extractions, derangements and devitalizations, exemplifies. According to the latest Report on Access to Health Care in SNS Establishments, last year 68,910 thousand consultations were made and 51,386 users referred in primary health care. This innovative project, which is read in the document, will continue to be extended, with the opening of more oral health offices, after the renovation of spaces, purchase of equipment and hiring of new teams (dentists and medical assistants dental surgery).
The Order of Dentists is also involved and there are municipalities that pay for the works and purchase of equipment for some health centers, says Paulo Melo, who assumes that it will be necessary to progress gradually until coverage of the entire country is achieved. As a result of the work that has been developed, the epidemiological situation is improving, highlights the OMD leader, Orlando Monteiro da Silva. If a few years ago the percentage of children with caries at six years was more than 70%, now it is around 50%, exemplifies the canon, satisfied that Portugal is close to achieving some of the goals set in the international recommendations.
But the path is far from complete, he says, noting that a measure that is central to accessing dentistry in public hospitals, where some stomatologists currently exist - the creation of a career as a dentist in the SNS recommended by the group study of the situation. There is still a lack of ministerial endorsement, explains Paulo Melo.
But the path is far from complete, he says, noting that a measure that is central to accessing dentistry in public hospitals, where some stomatologists currently exist - the creation of a career as a dentist in the SNS recommended by the group study of the situation. There is still a lack of ministerial endorsement, explains Paulo Melo.
