Green party reveal fully funded dental plan for Australia

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 13. September 2024

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CANBERRA, Australia: Official statistics show that in Australia up to 60% of dental care is paid out of pocket, whereas many other kinds of healthcare are publicly funded. This lack of governmental financial support has produced an understandable reluctance by the public to seek dental care owing to the costs, leading to delayed care as well as a range of oral health complications. In the lead-up to next year’s general election in Australia, the Australian Greens have unveiled a policy for free dental care for the entire population, a plan that they argue will address an oral health crisis created by mainstream political neglect.

According to the official press release, the party’s comprehensive plan, which will cost A$46 billion (€27.8 billion*) every four years, promises that “all items identified in the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary will be covered”, including dental prophylaxis, fillings, dentures and orthodontic treatment. The announcement will certainly be welcomed by a general public overwhelmingly in favour of free dental care, but the policy’s ability to gain political traction may be hampered by its significant cost.

Leading members of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) have voiced support for the plan, but have suggested that a more targeted approach addressing the dental needs of vulnerable populations is both more pressing and realistic. This more modest strategy has been costed at A$15 billion per decade. In an interview with ABC NewsRadio, ADA President Dr Scott Davis remarked that the issue of oral health in Australia has “been kicked down the road year after year after year. What we want is for disadvantaged Australians to have a fair go. For nearly half the population, access to dental care is very difficult indeed.”

Echoing this sentiment, ADA board member Dr Angie Nilsson stated in an interview with ABC Sydney, “We’ve got large groups of people, especially [those in] residential aged care facilities who can’t advocate for their own oral health necessarily, so something like a senior dental benefit schedule would be really helpful.”

While it appears that domestic oral health in Australia has not reached the level of crisis in places like the UK, the situation certainly requires serious consideration by the government in order for it to prevent a widespread decline in this sphere.

Editorial note:

Calculated on the OANDA platform for 12 September 2024.