Free dental clinics in Monash and Yarra Ranges would be open for 76 hours a week, under a state Labor promise made on Sunday.
Labor leader Ben Carroll upsized his pledge for 10 dental clinics to 20, with 14 locations in Melbourne including centres in Monash and the Yarra Ranges.
The clinics would open from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends.
People would be able to have free check-ups, fillings, root canals and extractions. Cases would be prioritised on the basis of urgency.
In an attempt to lure workers to the clinics, the state would offer regional dentists a sign-on bonus of $30,000.
The Australian Dental Association Victoria Branch (ADAVB) said the Labor proposal was a “significant and untested model” and must not increase “publicly eligible and underserved populations paying fees while others receive care for free”.
🗣️ “The test for every commitment is whether it reaches the people with the greatest need first, and whether there is a realistic and sustainable plan to staff it,” said President Dr Carolyn Ng.
Why does it matter? There have long been calls for dental to be covered by Medicare, however political parties baulk at the cost. As a result, older and younger Australians delay dental care.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics stated that between 2022 and 2023, 2.3 million Australians skipped seeing the dentist due to the price tag.
The data also showed that lower income earners were more likely to delay treatment, and were three times more likely to delay a visit by two years.
What’s next? The Eastern Melburnian has sought comment from local MPs and candidates and will update this story as required.
A Victorian Liberal Party spokesperson said a promise for new clinics must also have a “credible plan to deliver them”.
🗣️ “The Australian Dental Association reports that Victorians were waiting an average of 15 months for community dental care as at July, while the public dental system had previously been estimated to operate at just over half its capacity,” the spokesperson said. “Victorians deserve answers about where the dentists will come from, whether the scheme will be means-tested, how the $460 million will be funded and what it will mean for patients already waiting for treatment.”
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