DOH pushes licensing of dental clinics

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday it will soon begin issuing licenses to operate to legitimate dental care facilities nationwide to protect patients from bogus clinics.

The department said the policy is expected to be approved within the month.

DOH Undersecretary Emmie Liza Chiong said the move is aligned with the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, which recognizes oral health as part of primary care.

“So ngayon, isinusulong natin ang licensing ng dental facilities, in line with the UHC Act, na magiging bahagi ng primary care ang oral health. Kapag ito ay na-approve within this month, matatalaga na kung alin ang mga lehitimong dental facilities,” Chiong said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(We are pushing for the licensing of dental facilities in line with the UHC Act, which includes oral health as part of primary care. Once approved this month, we will be able to identify legitimate dental facilities.)

She noted that dentists will not be allowed to practice without an accredited facility.

“Natural po na ang dentista ay hindi makakapag-practice without the facility. Makikita natin kung alin ang lehitimo at ligtas puntahan. Magkakaroon na ng license to operate, katulad ng mga ospital,” she added.

(Dentists will not be allowed to practice without a facility. This will help identify legitimate and safe clinics, which will now be required to secure a license to operate similar to hospitals.)

The DOH is also pushing for a higher budget for the government’s oral health program.

“We are calling for a bigger budget for oral health. Napakaliit at limitado talaga ang resources ng department para dito,” Chiong said, adding that the DOH is working to revive the Oral Health Bureau to strengthen budget advocacy.

(Our resources for oral health are very limited. Reviving the Oral Health Bureau will help us lobby for a larger budget.)

Along with increased funding, the DOH hopes to address the shortage of dentists in the country by offering better compensation.

“Our current ratio is one dentist for every 53,000 Filipinos,” Chiong said, noting that the World Health Organization recommends one dentist for every 7,500 people.

(A single dentist is currently responsible for a very large number of patients.)

She added that bills seeking to increase the salary grade of dentists are currently pending in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.—MCG, GMA Integrated News