The absolute lack of interest shown by the Ministry of Health in the oral health of the Portuguese population is revealed, for example, by the scandalous way in which it treats dentists who work for the SNS (9 out of 10 with green receipts).
* * *
More than half of young dentists are dissatisfied with their profession, and if they could go back they would choose another career, and close to 25% intend to complete their studies in another area in order to practice another profession. The survey received more than 2,400 responses from a universe of 4,745 dentists registered with the Order under 35 years of age.
Most young dentists practice their profession in one (38%) or two clinics (26%). On average, 43% see between 6 and 10 patients per day and approximately 40% see more than 11 patients daily.
Only 17% of dentists under 35 years old claim to have a work contract. Close to 70% of respondents are self-employed without employees, that is, they work on green receipts. A situation that worsens for those who work for the State, almost 90% of young dentists placed in health centers or public hospitals are hired on green receipts, and almost half (48.9%) are hired through companies. 92.5% work in private clinics and offices, 4.1% in private hospitals and 2.4% in health centers.
In the private sector, the vast majority (78%) receive on a percentage basis, and of these, almost 55% earn between 31 and 40% of the value of the medical act. It should be noted that 92% of respondents reveal that they receive a percentage lower than 50%. Almost half (45%) of those who responded to the questionnaire took a year or more to earn an amount similar to the national minimum wage. Data show that more than 50% of young dentists have a gross monthly income of less than 1,500 euros (53%) and more than 70% have a net monthly income, that is, after discounts, below that same amount (74 %). More than half (51%) of young dentists receive less than 1,000 euros net per month.
The results of this survey are in line with the concerns that the chairman of the Portuguese Dental Association, Miguel Pavão, has publicly expressed about the excess of dentists and the underemployment conditions of younger professionals.
O Jornal Dentistry
Most young dentists practice their profession in one (38%) or two clinics (26%). On average, 43% see between 6 and 10 patients per day and approximately 40% see more than 11 patients daily.
Only 17% of dentists under 35 years old claim to have a work contract. Close to 70% of respondents are self-employed without employees, that is, they work on green receipts. A situation that worsens for those who work for the State, almost 90% of young dentists placed in health centers or public hospitals are hired on green receipts, and almost half (48.9%) are hired through companies. 92.5% work in private clinics and offices, 4.1% in private hospitals and 2.4% in health centers.
In the private sector, the vast majority (78%) receive on a percentage basis, and of these, almost 55% earn between 31 and 40% of the value of the medical act. It should be noted that 92% of respondents reveal that they receive a percentage lower than 50%. Almost half (45%) of those who responded to the questionnaire took a year or more to earn an amount similar to the national minimum wage. Data show that more than 50% of young dentists have a gross monthly income of less than 1,500 euros (53%) and more than 70% have a net monthly income, that is, after discounts, below that same amount (74 %). More than half (51%) of young dentists receive less than 1,000 euros net per month.
The results of this survey are in line with the concerns that the chairman of the Portuguese Dental Association, Miguel Pavão, has publicly expressed about the excess of dentists and the underemployment conditions of younger professionals.
O Jornal Dentistry
