• 8 out of 10 Irish adults entitled to free annual dental exam
• But new figures show that of the 3.3 million people covered, less than 20% have availed of offer
• Funding for PRSI scheme falls 87% in 3 years
• IDA says suggestion of raising PRSI rates ‘beggars relief’

Although 3.3 million Irish adults are entitled to a free oral examination once a year, fewer than 600,000 of them availed of the offer in 2011 according to new figures from the Irish Dental Association.

While there have been substantial increases in the numbers eligible for free examinations the figures show less and less people are availing of them. At the same time, expenditure on both the Medical Card Scheme and the PRSI Dental Scheme have declined rapidly.

The Chief Executive of the Irish Dental Association Fintan Hourihan described the figures as shocking and said recent suggestions by the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton that PRSI contributions should be increased ‘beggared belief’.

“Given the Minister’s title one would have thought she would be doing everything possible to make sure people on Medical Cards and those paying PRSI would be receiving their full benefit. As it is people paying PRSI are already being short changed. How could a Government Minister countenance increasing it when they have failed to deliver on all their pre-election promises pertaining to dental health. Namely reversing cuts to the Medical Card Scheme, reviewing the PRSI scheme and appointing a Chief Dental Officer” Hourihan said.

Galway based dentist, Dr Peter Gannon, said the main reason only one in five people was availing of the free examination was confusion and lack of clarity amongst patients over their entitlements.
“If something is for free it is usually totally oversubscribed. Eight out of ten Irish people are entitled to a free oral exam so why are attendance figures so low? The fault lies with the HSE and the Department of Social Protection. Without warning, the HSE reduced the Medical Card Scheme to an emergency only scheme, while at the same time the Department of Social Protection removed all benefits under the PRSI scheme except the annual check-up.

"Instead of mounting a major campaign to explain to patients what was still available and urging them to safeguard their dental health by getting an oral exam, both the HSE and the Department allowed the present information deficit to develop. They did this in the misguided hope of saving some money in the short term. The reality is they have abrogated their responsibility to the Irish people and are storing up physical and financial pain for the future” Dr Gannon said.

Dr Gannon said it was time for both the HSE and Department to engage in some joined up thinking.
“It is clear hundreds of thousands of people don’t know their entitlements and are putting off getting a check up because they believe it will cost them money. Regular dental check-ups can identify problems early and simpler treatment is less expensive for patients and the state. Nobody wants to go back to the days when extractions and dentures were common. Tooth decay and gum disease are preventable and the HSE and the Department of Social Protection need to fulfil their responsibility to help people look after their oral health” Dr Gannon concluded.

For Further Information

Contact Kieran Garry
Gordon MRM
01/6650455 or 087/2368366

kieran@gordonmrm.ie 

Note to Editor

While the number of medical card holders eligible for free exams rose by almost 17% or 200,000 between 2009 and 2011 the number of examinations only increased by 4.6%. Total expenditure on the medical card scheme fell from €87m in 2009 to €51m in 2011, a fall of 41%.

The number of people eligible for the PRSI scheme was 2 million in 2011. The number of examinations declined from almost 400,000 in 2008 to 272,000 in 2011 a fall of 31%. At the same time total expenditure on the scheme fell from €69 million in 2008 to €9m in 2011. A fall of 87%. Details below.