[Greens-Media] Dental health care crisis: call for Keneally to back universal Denticare

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
23 May 2010


Dental health care crisis: call for Keneally to back universal Denticare

Responding to today’s report that more than half a million people wait
more than two years for urgent dental care, Greens MP and health
spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier Kristina Keneally to
lobby the federal government to expand the $7.3 billion health reform
package by including overhauls to dental health services. (Sun Herald,
page 1, http://bit.ly/dcfyLK)

”The NSW Premier should respond to this crisis by adding her voice to
the growing call for the federal governement to implement a national
dental health care system," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Dental health is essential to good physical health and emotional
well-being, but there are more than 500,000 people on dental waiting
lists in Australia.

“The federal government’s health reform plan currently before state
and federal governments needs to cover dental health.

“The Greens are advocating for a universal dental care scheme,
operating as part of Medicare.

“Such a scheme is essential to ensure the current dental crisis does not worsen.

“Dental health care is long over due for an overhaul as the current
system fails many Australians, particularly those who are already
disadvantaged.

“Despite numerous warnings about the state of the nation’s dental
health the response from the federal Labor government has been
inadequate. The recent budget had no provision to deliver the required
funding for universal dental care.

“Earlier this year the report from the National Health and Hospitals
Reform Commission recommended an increase in the Medicare levy to
finance a universal dental scheme.

"All Australians should be able to access dental care.

“Greens Senators Bob Brown and Rachel Siewert have been advocating for
a universal, affordable DentiCare system and Senator Brown detailed
this issue in his budget-reply speech earlier this month,” Ms Rhiannon
said.


For more information:  Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568



-- 
Lee Rhiannon
Greens NSW MP
0427 861 568