337. The Dental Association wants lower tax on value added in toothpastes with fluoride as a public health measure

The Dental Association (OMD) advocates reducing the tax on added value in toothpaste with fluoride through a reclassification of the product, proven to be effective in preventing the most common infectious disease, tooth decay. At Lusa, the president Orlando Monteiro da Silva argued that it is a public health measure.

Fluoride is a substance proven effective in preventing and why toothpaste should not be taxed like any other cosmetic or perfume, this twenty per cent, said. The Order has already asked to rate change in 2007, in a letter to then Health Minister Correia de Campos but received no response.

The OMD want the folders currently considered luxury goods, cosmetics, essential goods are reclassified as preventive and therapeutic, as has happened with diapers and condoms. After reclassification, the decrease in tax rate of added value can be entered in the state budget, predicted Orlando Monteiro da Silva.

On the other hand, soft drinks or the lollipops are taxed at five percent while products are highly cariogenic, also noted the president. Source of the Directorate General of Health (DGS) today indicated that any decision in this area is political and that the DGS has received no request for comment. It is for the DGS and support technically evaluate the relevance and importance of applications, added the same source told Lusa.

Supply Authority's National Pharmaceutical (INFARMED) reported being responsible for quality assurance of what is marketed in terms of medicines, cosmetics and personal hygiene. To be considered as a drug, manufacturers must submit the product to various European bodies concerned, the same source also explained.

The president of OMD contended, for its part, the folders you do not want to spend on drugs, which carries a complex process but the essentials and noted that the reclassification is for each Member State. At Lusa, responsible exemplified the difference of value added tax priced between Portugal (twenty percent) and Spain (seven percent) in dental materials for medical use.

RTP

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The Dental Association has an obligation to intervene in the policies followed oral health in the country, it is time to take responsibility for the bleak outlook in the provision of primary and preventive care that today (not) do in Portugal.

Not only is the decline in value added tax sore on the toothpaste, the OMD should and is obliged to go much further and require firmness and determination in solving the problem of abandonment of oral health care to provide the population made by current government of the Socialist Party, as well as for others before him.

Why is all of us to pay taxes for the training of dentists in Portugal, these physicians may not then be formed only at the service of the rich and give to oblivion that the assistance must be with the rest of the people who paid for his training with the money from their taxes.

It is regrettable misfortune that befalls the most disadvantaged, including children, young and old who are neglected any kind of access to oral health care worthy, although we are a country full member of the European Union.