Dentists may strike if government fails to meet their demands

Hungarian dentists say they may strike if the government fails to meet their demands, including answers about delays in upgrading equipment at primary-care practices.

They are asking the National Directorate General for Hospitals to explain why the procurement process needed an extension of almost a year. They also want details on which procedures have ended, which remain under way, and when new instruments will actually reach general practitioner, pediatric and dental offices.

The petition says younger doctors expect to work with modern diagnostics, digital technology, advanced imaging and high-quality equipment. If they instead encounter outdated or incomplete equipment in primary-care practices, it limits patient care and makes the profession less attractive.

Talks have already begun between the Health Ministry and dental representatives. Zoltán Dúl said ministry leaders and representatives of the profession met on August 13 and agreed to establish a separate dental working group. He also said the ministry would support primary dental care with additional funding, although no decision has been made on the amount or schedule.

The petition points to a development program worth more than 27 billion forints that is already under way. Its organizers say the government must accelerate that program and resolve the operating finances of dental primary care. Dúl responded that the system “did not deteriorate in a hundred days, and it will not be fixed in a hundred days.” The petition organizers accepted that the problems took time to develop, but said their solution cannot be postponed indefinitely.

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It did not deteriorate in a hundred days, and it will not be fixed in a hundred days.