Rural Health Alliance backs calls for improved access

The National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) has backed calls by the Australian Dental Association and the Australian Council of Social Service for a joint Commonwealth - State scheme to address urgent dental access problems in rural areas.

In a media release issued on 25 October, the NRHA states:

"With national leadership and affordable new expenditure, Australia could fix the terrible state of oral and dental health among its adults. The Alliance is a strong supporter of the campaign promoted by ACOSS and the Australian Dental Association because people in rural and remote areas are among the worst-served and worst-affected with regard to oral and dental health. The NRHA’s number one priority presented to Minister Abbott last week was to improve access to dentists for rural people."

Chair of the Alliance, John Wakeman also noted that:

"The Alliance has a particular interest in the oral and dental labour force – a key determinant
of the national capacity to deliver more dental services that underlies the ACOSS proposal. Wherever there are shortages of health professionals they are most severe in rural and remote areas. There are far too few dentists and oral hygienists in rural areas and we hear horror stories, like young people having to have all their teeth out because of dental pain and the complete absence of preventive care.”