A new report highlights billions lost due to unmet oral health needs.
The Green Party has reignited its call for free dental care, citing a report that paints a bleak picture of the current state of play in Aotearoa's dental system. The Frank Advice Report estimates that unmet oral health needs cost the economy and communities over $6.2 billion annually, more than three times what it would cost to provide free dental health care for all.
According to Ricardo Menéndez March, Green Party spokesperson for Primary Health, cost is the main barrier to accessing dental care for 44 per cent of the adult population, with an average dentist appointment costing about 40 per cent of someone earning the minimum wage's weekly income. Delaying or neglecting dental issues can lead to severe health problems and expensive interventions, as well as impacting people's ability to participate in their communities.
The Green Party believes that healthcare is a human right and argues that folding dental care into the public health system would make it accessible to all. They propose implementing a wealth tax to fund this initiative. The party claims that short-term cost savings for the government create real and enormous costs for individuals and communities, emphasizing the need for action.