The
DGS reports that the 13 health centers in the initial phase of the
project received 16,760 patients in 25,640 dental clinics. The
new policy strategy in this area thus addresses the lack of dental
medicine in the NHS, seeking to recover from the backwardness which, in
comparison to other European countries, is particularly evident in
Portugal given its large number of partial or total edentulous .Continuing
the strategy initiated with the dental checks, which the Secretary of
State says has been particularly relevant for population groups such as
children, the elderly and pregnant, the pilot project "Dentists in
Primary Health Care" obtained in the first 13 units that the ruler considers very interesting results. This
assessment results from two perspectives: on the one hand, that of the
users, who recognize that this service was really necessary and among
which there were people who had not been to the dentist for 20 years,
and on the other hand, of the satisfaction of the dentists who worked where they knew they really made the difference.
As
for the balance of this performance, the DGS reports that the 13 health
centers of the initial phase of the project received 16,760 users in
25,640 dental clinics. With
the exception of cosmetic care, which are not covered by the program,
these patients were, in turn, subject to a total of 28,900 basic
treatments and 20,270 complementary procedures. If
the universe of analysis is extended to the 11 health centers that
integrated the program in a second phase of the process, the total
accounting includes 32,882 users and 56,824 consultations until the 30th
of September.According
to the Deputy Secretary of State for Health, the involvement of
municipalities such as Arouca, which, before health centers without
dental equipment, were willing to pay the necessary investment - in the specific case of this municipality, involved more than 37,000 euros. It
is not the responsibility of the autarchy to assume this expense and
that is the difference between politicians, Fernando Araújo said.
In its initial
phase, the pilot project "Doctors Dentists in Primary Health Care" was
implemented in the health centers of Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos,
Azambuja, Cartaxo, Costa da Caparica, Fátima, Lourinhã, Mafra, Moita,
Montemor-o -Novo, Portel, Rio Maior and Salvaterra de Magos.
The second stage also included Arouca, Castelo de Paiva, Celorico de Basto, Cinfães, Damaia, Estremoz, Faro, Freixo de Espada a Cinta, São João da Pesqueira, Moimenta da Beira and Tabuaço.
The second stage also included Arouca, Castelo de Paiva, Celorico de Basto, Cinfães, Damaia, Estremoz, Faro, Freixo de Espada a Cinta, São João da Pesqueira, Moimenta da Beira and Tabuaço.
Already, until the end of
2017, the third phase of the project will extend to the Alfandega da
Fé, Algueirão, Bragança, Cacém (Olival), Carnide, Carrazeda de Ansiães,
Carregal do Sal, Castelo Branco (Izeda), Macedo de Cavaleiros, Matosinhos
(Leça), Miranda do Douro, Mirandela, Mogadouro, Monte Pedral,
Moscavide, Odivelas, Ovar, Paço de Arcos, Portimão, Porto (Aldoar, Barão
de Nova Sintra e São João), Póvoa de Santo Adrião, Queluz, Santa
Comba Dão, São João da Talha, Santo António de
Cavaleiros, Tavira, Torre de Moncorvo, Torre de Dona Chama, Vila Flor,
Vimioso, Vinhais and Vouzela.
