235. Oral Health: More than a thousand doctors have joined the program for pregnant women and elderly

More than a thousand dentists and dentists, of which almost half of the North, joined in the program two weeks of oral health of pregnant women and the elderly, according to data released today by the Dental Association. According to statistics, 1148 dentists and dentists have joined the program from 12:00, 11 March, the date of opening of registration, and 15:00 on Tuesday.

Of this number, nearly half of professionals (508) are from the north, followed by the Center (349) and Lisbon and Tagus Valley (236). Alentejo (28) and the Algarve (27) are the regions where doctors less joined the program.

Health care was provided in 1278 different places, and the coverage rate by county was higher in the central region (91 percent). This was followed by the North (87 percent), Lisbon and Tagus Valley (76 percent), Algarve (69 percent) and Alentejo (35 percent).

Of the 1148 professionals who joined the program, 1,023 (dentists) are registered as Dental and 125 (stoma) in the Medical Association.

Commenting in a statement to Lusa, the data, the president of Dental Association, Orlando Monteiro da Silva, highlighted the "great support" of professionals, though there are "active dentists in 5500. "It's a large membership, which is sufficient to ensure the functioning of the program," he claimed, eventually admitted to being "more desirable inscriptions" of doctors. Orlando Monteiro da Silva said that the entries on-line "(the website of the Directorate General of Health) are open until the end of April and that the Order will promote two actions in May for information on Porto and Lisbon.

The program of oral health of pregnant women and the elderly, the National Health Service provides "check-dentist" (contributions in consultations and treatments) that can only begin to be used from 01 May, the president said.

Each pregnant then at the health center will have three dental checks, a maximum total of 120 euros. The program will cover 65 thousand pregnant. The elderly beneficiaries of the solidarity supplement can enjoy a maximum of two dental checks for a total of 80 euros.

Where appropriate, are essential requirements of a certificate of pregnancy or evidence of the situation as a beneficiary of Completion issued by the Institute of Social Security. Users can choose any doctor or dentist office, since that is part of the list of professionals who have joined the system in its health region.

RTP