National Oral Health Alliance lobbies Parliament

The largest and most representative oral health deputation ever seen in Australia descended on Canberra last Tuesday urging the Commonwealth Government to play a coordinating role and ensure that more resources are dedicated to public dental services and preventive programs.

The National Oral Health Alliance deputation of 85 people included representatives from 35 welfare, community and professional organisations.

Briefing sessions and presentations were delivered to the deputation by Health Minister Tony Abbott, Shadow Health Minister Nicola Roxon, and Senators Lyn Allison and Bob Brown from the Democrats and the Greens respectively. Members of the deputation then formed into teams to speak with many MPs from across the political spectrum.

The Alliance recommended these key 'solutions' to the oral health crisis affecting half of Australia's population:
1. The Commonwealth Government should ensure that all people on concession cards have a free basic course of dental care every two years. This preventive health measure would help improve the poor oral health of people on low incomes and lessen the number of tooth extractions and more expensive treatments needed.
2. The Commonwealth Government should provide funding for this initiative through the States and Territories, on the condition that the States and Territories:

• bring their own expenditure up to the new level of Commonwealth funding
• extend water fluoridation to all communities
• ensure that all children and eligible adults receive one course of general oral health care every two years, and ensure that no-one waits longer than 24 hours to receive emergency dental care for swelling, infection, bleeding or serious and persistent pain

3. The Commonwealth should conduct a full national review of the current oral health workforce.

Very favourable responses were provided by MPs representing Labor, the Democrats and the Greens. Mr Abbott was supportive of the third recommendation but declined to involve the Commonwealth Government in a new partnership with the States to address the urgent need for improved oral health measures.

VOHA will publish details of any further developments arising.