The program of dental checks will be extended to young people aged 15 years, covering about 50,000 users, an extension without additional cost to the National Health Service (SNS), according to the Order of Dentists. Speaking to Lusa agency, the president of the College of Dentists, Orlando Monteiro da Silva, explained that there has been agreement with the Ministry of Health on the extension of the program of oral health in young people. So far, the program covered schoolchildren up to 13 years, which last year alone received 300,000 dental checks.
Besides children, in 2012, the program made it possible to check about 100,000 pregnant women, elderly people with solidarity supplement and patients with HIV / AIDS. The program's budget in 2013 is 16 million, the same as the previous year. After the agreement with the Ministry of Health, the Medical Dentist says that this time is being done technical work to operationalize the extension to 15 year olds, not helping when they can get checks to be issued for this new public-target. The president justified the possibility of additional costs without extension of the program for the SNS with the improvement of oral health indices of children already covered in the program: the improved oral health indices and decreased the risk that implied an extension of the program. It's totally different take a child to 15 years that has never been seen or have a child or young person who has already been followed.
In addition, Orlando Monteiro da Silva says the Dental does not arise out of the cost-cutting effort that is asked across the health. Earlier this month, the Health Minister also announced in parliament that the agreement with the Order resulted in the first steps for performing screening for oral cancer. Orlando Monteiro da Silva explained now Lusa that the technical implementation is almost complete and that there are already guidelines on screening numbers, biopsies and populations to achieve.
Among the population most at risk of oral cancer are smokers and excessive drinkers and the older population, with the risk increasing especially after 50 years. According to the president, the tumors in the mouth at an early stage can be cured and represent less financial and personal costs. If everything is approved for this year, we are available to host this screening shed and treatment of malignant lesions. It's all set when we start, Monteiro da Silva said in statements collected by Lusa.
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On the way in the right direction. But lack implement the oral health card for all children and youth; the dentist-check program covers only a small percentage of the actual needs of oral health of children and young people, leaving out the vast majority of those in need, such as those attending secondary or university education (those most in need of support).
Do not understand the assignment of check-dentists who assumed by social neglect contracted HIV / AIDS (the tax money paid by those who work should never be targeted for such people). Also do not understand the lack of implementation of a network of health care public oral medicine, in the same circumstances that the private sector; a real shame of public health policy that no one dare report.
