Just 866 dentists signed up to Ireland's medical card scheme, numbers down 35%

New figures reveal a sharp decline in dentist participation in Ireland's medical card scheme, with only 866 dentists signed up. This represents a decrease of over 1,350 dentists compared to 2020, a 35% drop. The figures were obtained by Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne.

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There really isn't one single reason for this drop of dentist participation in the scheme.

Dr. Bridget Harrington-Barry, President of the Irish Dental Association, explained on RTÉ's Drivetime that there isn't a single reason for this decline. She stated that the scheme has become increasingly difficult for dentists to operate sustainably. "This is really about having a scheme that is sustainable for patient, dentist and the State," she said.

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The scheme has become increasingly difficult for dentists to deliver sustainably. This is really about having a scheme that is sustainable for patient, dentist and the State.

Dr. Harrington-Barry emphasized that the scheme's structure requires a complete redesign, not just temporary fixes. She pointed to unilateral cuts imposed by the HSE in 2010, which shifted the scheme to a budget-led model. "There needs to be a redesign around the needs of the patient and the realities of delivering modern dentistry in today's world," she argued, noting that a patient's clinical needs do not fit neatly into an annual entitlement for services like fillings or extractions.

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There needs to be a redesign around the needs of the patient and the realities of delivering modern dentistry in today's world.

She described the government's approach as "a penny wise and a pound foolish." While acknowledging that small improvements are welcome, she noted they are insufficient. The association believes the government saves money by restricting treatments, but this leads to more complex and costly procedures later, potentially requiring hospital settings. The IDA advocates for a sustainable scheme and urges the government to be open to new ideas, though no talks are currently scheduled with the Department of Health.

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They're saving money by restricting the treatment that can be provided on the scheme. But then money is being spent by providing more complex treatment, maybe under a hospital setting.