Increased funding for oral health initiatives

11/5/00
The State Government has made a major commitment to expanding oral health initiatives.
Health Minister John Day today said the State Budget had provided an additional $7.6 million for oral health which was being allocated on a recurrent basis.
"These annual funds will be spent on prevention and promotion, diagnosis and treatment, and continuing care," he said.
"Improving the oral health of special care groups, including the rural and remote Aboriginal population, through the extension of existing preventive strategies in these communities will be the focus for prevention and promotion initiatives."
Mr Day said the diagnosis and treatment component would focus mainly on expanding the eligibility criteria to include those holding health care cards, while the continuing care component would look at new initiatives to improve the oral health of elderly people.
"In practical terms, this additional funding will mean that more low income Western Australians, including those in rural and remote areas and the aged population, will have access to publicly-subsidised visits to the dentist for restorative and other general treatment.
"It will also mean that existing dental education programs, particularly in oral hygiene, can be extended and delivered to those most in need."
Mr Day said that the funds were additional to the $34 million currently being spent on State-wide oral health, including school dental services, metropolitan and rural community dental services and specialist services.
"The Government has also allocated $19 million over two years to construct and develop the WA Centre for Oral Health,"
he said.
"The WA Centre for Oral Health will provide an integrated centre of excellence for dentistry and represent a strong partnership between the Government and the University of Western Australia."
The Minister said the 2000-01 Health budget of $1.9 billion represented an $86 million increase over last year.
"The Health Budget represents nearly 25 per cent of the total State Budget, which highlights the Government's commitment to the health needs of all Western Australians," he said.
Media contact: Carole Cowling - 9213 6600