TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG, leading article: “Visiting the dentist as a luxury” by Anita Heubacher

2023-06-22 22:26:05

Issue of Friday, June 23, 2023

Innsbruck (OTS) – The Dental Association argues once morest a dental outpatient clinic for patients with health insurance. The professional representation runs the risk of being perceived as a blocker by patients and as completely outdated within the dental profession.

Dentists are similar to many other medical disciplines: health insurance offices are advertised several times and often remain orphaned. Even in the Inntalfurche or in Innsbruck, panel doctors are difficult or even impossible to find. In Tyrol, the situation has deteriorated further because the dental emergency outpatient clinic at the Innsbruck clinic has stopped its night services during the week. For many patients, the dental clinic was the last point of contact because they were not treated anywhere else and they cannot afford private doctors. The number of doctors of choice has risen, that of panel doctors has remained almost the same, with an increasing number of inhabitants. The supply has definitely deteriorated, the contribution payments to the health insurance companies have therefore not decreased for the individual.

Politicians recently acknowledged their omissions and admitted that this development had been watched for far too long. Doctors’ centers and primary care units for general practitioners are considered a solution. There, doctors should be able to work together in a wide variety of working time models and the patient should benefit from the longer opening hours. Actually, there should already be many such medical centers across Austria. There is not a single one in Tyrol. Health Minister Johannes Rauch from the Greens has identified the Austrian Medical Association as a blocker. She made sure that there was not too much competition for her own stand. Now the Tyrolean Dental Association runs the risk of being perceived as a hindrance by patients if they do not want to allow outpatient dental clinics. There are project applicants, the state government gives the green light. The Chamber takes legal action and blocks the project.

From the point of view of the Dental Association, it is understandable that one pays attention to the prosperity of one’s own profession. This may be considered a good thing by parts of the dental profession. On the other hand, one has to ask oneself who exactly the chamber is protecting. Probably not young women. They might benefit, as might their young male colleagues, who have a different definition of work-life balance than their predecessors. Different working time models can be lived in outpatient clinics than the lone fighter, who also has to spend a lot of money to set up an ordination. It will need more panel dentists. For this, the value of the e-card must increase. For the panel dentist, wherever he practices, and for the patient.

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