603. Cheques dentists turn to be issued

The distribution of dental checks returned this Wednesday to be held, after being suspended about two months, confirmed the president of the Order of Dentists, welcoming the amount of EUR 16 million for the program. Today at 00h was given an indication to remember that the issue of dental checks resumes its normal course, as the Directorate General of Health [DGS] had already informed, said Orlando Monteiro da Silva, chairman of the Dental Association in speaking to Lusa.

For the sake of rigor budget management, the DGS proposed in late October, the temporary suspension of the issue of dental checks for school children up to December 31, 2012, remaining unchanged the process of issuing checks to other target groups of the program (pregnant, elderly, patients with HIV / AIDS). All goes according to plan, the president has confirmed, adding that health centers, schools and regional health authorities have been advised of the regularization of the situation.

Orlando Monteiro da Silva was even pleased with the budget allocated to the oral health program in the state budget this year, which is at least equal to the year 2012 (EUR 16 million), as had already announced the Ministry of Health. However, the president of Dentists looks forward to the detail of the ministry's budget to see if there is a reinforcement of this money in the program to include screening for oral cancer.
In 2012 dental checks covering approximately 400 000 users were issued, of which 300 000 correspond to school children and 100,000 pregnant, elderly with solidarity supplement and patients with HIV / AIDS.

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