(Eagle News)–Senator Sonny Angara is pushing for the creation of a dental unit in each of the Department of Health’s rural health centers so each Filipino can have access to dentists.
In making the proposal through Senate Bill No. 962, Angara noted the results of a 2016 report by the Philippine Prosthodontic Society that said that around seven million Filipinos have never been to a dentist due to the misconception that accessing dental care is expensive.
He said based on reports, around 80 percent of the population was suffering from some form of dental problem in 2018.
He said 92 percent of the population is suffering from dental caries, while 78 percent have gum diseases.
“Clearly, this is a problem, which if not addressed, would lead to minor inconveniences such as losing sleep and more serious consequences including loss of productivity. We want to avoid situations where someone with dental problems miss time from work or school and end up failing their grades or are fired from their jobs,” Angara said.
He added the Philippines was a signatory to the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978, which called on all governments to “formulate national policies, strategies and plans of actions to launch and sustain primary health care as part of a comprehensive national health system in coordination with other sectors.”
“Nearly four decades have passed since the country signed the declaration and through the years the Philippines’ primary heath care system has grown and has made some modest gains. Several gaps however remain, including the lack of an institutional means of promoting and ensuring the dental health of every Filipino,” Angara said.
