718. Government ensures career creation for dentists in SNS is not forgotten

The Secretary of State for Health, Raquel Duarte, assured this Friday that the creation of a dentist career in the National Health Service (S.N.S.) is not entirely forgotten, but under review. There is a strong commitment to maintain the oral health of the population in the context of the SNS that is not entirely forgotten, but under consideration, said the official, at the official opening of the 27th Congress of the Order of Dentists, in Matosinhos, district from Porto.

Saying not to be unaware of the expectation of these health professionals, Raquel Duarte stressed that the Ministry of Health, which underwent refurbishment, maintains the firm conviction that it is essential to value them. In addition to this issue, the new Secretary of State said that the project to integrate dental medicine in the SNS, expanding the number of health centers with oral health care is to continue and increase.

The placement of dentists in primary health care began with the current government, first through pilot projects that were progressively expanded. We want to expand the number of health centers with dentists so we can have coverage across the country, he explained.
Before the Secretary of State's intervention, the president of the Order of Dentists, Orlando Monteiro da Silva, insisted on the need to move forward with the creation of a career for dentists in the SNS, noting that the process has already been approved by the Ministry of Health, but has been waiting for almost a year for finance. It is fundamental and necessary, in the interest of quality, to create a career in dentistry, as it is a specific profession, he said.

The Order has long claimed an adequate status for these professionals, enshrined in a career. The congress, which began on Thursday and ends on Saturday, has on the table, in addition to socio-professional issues, topics such as implantology, endodontics or periodontology. Simultaneously with the congress is the Expodentária, the largest oral health fair in the Iberian Peninsula, which, in this edition, counts on the presence of 139 exhibitors, distributed by 507 booths.

09.11.2018

Correio da Manhã

  

717. Objectives for the promotion of oral health in primary health care, within the framework of the review of the National Oral Health Promotion Program

1 - Considering the results achieved with the pilot experiments carried out under Order No. 8591-B / 2016, published in the Diário da República, 2nd Series, No. 125, of July 1, 2016, are defined The following objectives for the promotion of oral health in primary health care, within the framework of the revision of the National Program for the Promotion of Oral Health, orienting the strategic action of the National Health Service (S.N.S.) in the oral health area to 2020 to :
(a) Promote equity in oral health care provision by increasing and improving oral health coverage in primary care through the implementation of oral health consultations in all municipalities of the country;
(b) ensure adequate access to oral health responses in primary health care based on referral by the family doctor and the performance of clinically necessary treatments by dentists, excluding strictly aesthetic interventions;
c) Develop an integrated delivery of oral health care in primary health care, fostering the articulation of dentists, general and family doctors, public health doctors, oral hygienists, nutritionists, psychologists. , nurses and other health professionals to promote integration of care in the family health team;
d) To foster the articulation between the oral health team of primary health care with the stomatology services and other hospital specialties, in order to guarantee a simple and effective referral of patients who need hospital care;
e) To develop national, regional and local training activities, according to the needs identified, in order to improve the response to the oral health needs of the population and to make the importance of promoting oral health more visible;
f) To develop actions to promote oral health and prevention of oral cavity diseases, in various contexts, in a continuous manner over time and framed in the promotion of oral health literacy and training, namely through the National School Health Program, the Health Literacy and Care Integration, and the SNS + Proximity initiative;
g) Build partnerships with Municipalities to develop oral health promotion initiatives and projects, with a special focus on primary health care, in line with Local Health Plans;
h) Share good oral health practices implemented by dentists and health professionals working in the oral health field and disseminate experiences and results that translate into effective gains;
(i) promote the proper recording of dentist activity data on primary care in the Oral Health Information System (SISO);
j) Invest in oral health information and knowledge, promoting and encouraging research in Oral Health;
k) Monitor and evaluate the actions developed under the previous paragraphs, using quality indicators that translate into health gains.
2 - The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) shall define the indicators referred to in paragraph k) of the preceding paragraph within 30 days of the entry into force of this Order, including a user satisfaction assessment strand, after Order of Dentists.

3 - The DGS shall review the National Oral Health Promotion Program developing the strategic objectives by 2020 and present it for public discussion within 30 days of the entry into force of this Order.
4 - The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, EPE (SPMS, EPE), adapt and develop SISO to this policy of oral health care in primary health care, as well as elaborate the Oral Health Bulletin, which should be available on the Health Data Platform (PDS) by December 31, 2018.
5 - The entities of the Ministry of Health and the NHS shall pursue the 2020 objectives defined under the terms of this Order and, in order to promote access and equity in the provision of health care, ensure as concrete objectives that:
a) By the end of the first semester of 2019, at least 30% of the municipalities have at least one dental office;
(b) By the end of 2019, at least 60% of municipalities have at least one dental practice, and at least one such response should exist in all health center groupings;
c) By the end of the first half of 2020, all municipalities have at least one dental practice.
6 - The DGS shall, in conjunction with the other entities referred to in the preceding paragraph, namely with the Regional Health Administrations, the Central Administration of the Health System, IP (ACSS, IP), the SPMS, EPE, and the Order of Dentists, a semiannual evaluation of the implementation of the objectives defined in the terms of this order, which should include recommendations, to be published on the NHS portal and on the entity's website, by September 1 and March 1, respectively.
7 - Costs related to the operationalization and monitoring of this strategy are supported by ACSS, I. P.
8 - This Order shall enter into force on the day following its publication.
September 14, 2018. - The Assistant Secretary of State and Health,

Fernando Manuel Ferreira Araújo.

Despacho n.º 8861-A/2018