Dental association warns of impending supply shortage
The President of the Lower Saxony Dental Association (ZKN) is calling for fundamental changes in healthcare policy in order to secure dental care in Lower Saxony. Owner-managed dental practices must once again receive "adequate fees, unbudgeted and reliably dynamized", said Henner Bunke at the chamber meeting, which will take place until Saturday. This is the only way to retain specialist staff and stabilize care.
The dentists are particularly critical of the so-called SHI Financial Stabilization Act (GKV-FinStG), which was passed in 2022. Due to strict budgeting, there is a lack of funds for prevention. In addition, the savings pose a threat to comprehensive dental patient care, especially in rural and structurally weak regions in Germany.
According to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists of Lower Saxony (KZVN), certain regions of the state are already undersupplied with dentists. In East Frisia, the Peine region and Lüchow-Dannenberg, for example, the level of care is only 70 percent.
The imbalance in funding for dental practices could lead to a significant shortage of skilled doctors, threatening the overall health of patients. To combat diseases and ensure proper dental care, it's crucial to reconsider healthcare policies and provide doctors with adequate fees.
Source: www.dpa.com
