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Dentists are supportive of incentives being built into their contracts which would be aligned with agreed goals for the public healthcare system.
This call is made in a submission delivered by the IDA to the Department of Health and Children on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector.
In a wide ranging submission, the IDA called on the Government to exclude the Public Dental Service from the HSE recruitment freeze because the work of the Service deals mainly with the priority groups of children and people with special needs. The IDA argues that years of under-investment in the Public Dental Service mean that any further freeze on recruitment to the Service would seriously undermine its ability to maintain a credible function.
An internationally accepted index should be considered as part of any measure to determine the allocation of needs. The method chosen must be credible and must estimate needs in a valid, reliable and transparent manner.
The IDA also suggested that given the climate of scarce resources, the Government must prioritse support for dental treatment for medical card patients.
Chief Executive Fintan Hourihan commented; "Any restructuring of the state schemes needs to take into account the fact that medical card holders suffer from poorer oral health than non-medical card holders and this fact must be reflected in the allocation of resources."
The IDA also proposed that the Government use tax incentives for dentists to encourage them to invest in their facilities and increase their capacity to treat more patients.
The Association believes that the Quality Outcomes Framework in Britain is a good example of how incentive payments can encourage more effective treatment of a wider range of patients. For example, incentives relating to the upgrade of premises would make publicly-funded services available to a larger network of clients.
The submission also highlighted concerns by dentists with the administration of the DTSS. The DTSS is provided by the HSE and offers dental care to adult medical cardholders. This scheme is limited by budget. This is means-tested scheme and covers approx. 30% of adults.
Investment in ICT would also allow harmonisation of payments as well as more effective oversight and the development of a more complete picture of need and unmet need.
In addition, resources should not be allocated to new technologies without an evidence base indicating value for money. Great progress could be achieved through an investment package which would enhance ICT facilities for general dental practitioners and in rolling out electronic patients records systems in the public service.
A copy of our submission is available to download from the IDA Submissions section of our website.
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