Photo: nzherald.co.nz
"Affordable Dental Care: A Right, Not a Privilege, Urges Shane Te Pou"
Shane Te Pou advocates for affordable dental care, highlighting that failures in Dentistry lead to severe health consequences and economic burdens on society.
- According to the FrankAdvice report for Dental for All, 44% of adults avoid visiting a dentist due to high costs, exacerbating issues in oral hygiene.
- The report reveals that about 25% of adults rate their oral health as bad, indicating a public health crisis within the health system.
- Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) faces rising oral health issues, with untreated decay and infection affecting hundreds of thousands of residents, according to the Indian Dental Association.
Why It Matters
The push for affordable dental care emphasizes the need for systemic changes in health care, as poor oral health can lead to broader health complications and increased public spending.