Nationals' Health Policy

The Victorian Nationals ' Health Policy Directions Paper, which outlines their health election platform, includes a number of measures designed to improve dental health services, especially for those living in regional and rural areas of the State.

They acknowledge that "current dental waiting time for restorative dental care and dentures is unacceptable" and undertake to:

• "Improve the planning, integration, coordination and management of public dental services in Victoria
• Develop strategies and incentives to attract dentists to practice in country Victoria
• Subsidise private denbtal services to provide services for eligible residents where public dental sevices are not available or where patients have been required to wait more than a minimum predetermined maximum time for treatment."

The Nationals also propose to provide 10 scholarships each year "to young country Victorians to enable them to study medicine or dentistry at an Australian University on condition they spend at least 5 years practicing in country Victoria following graduation. When fully implemented the Victorian Government will be assisting 60 young country Victorians to receive training at medical or dental schools".