Newsletter
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe, a joint initiative of health care authorities and companies promoting better oral health in Europe, launched the European Oral Health Report Card at a round-table meeting yesterday. It was presented in the European Parliament in anticipation of World Oral Health Day, which is celebrated tomorrow.
The report card was developed by the platform to outline the degree of effectiveness of oral health disease prevention in the 28 EU member states. It features indicators that enable the member states to measure their status and progress over time, while guiding oral health policies and strategies at government level.
“The report card should be the basis of increased efforts in the member states and in particular at EU level to improve oral health prevention policies,” said Prof. Kenneth Eaton, past President of the European Association of Dental Public Health and Chair of the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe. According to Eaton, there is great variation among the member states with regard to the quality of governance of preventive practices or oral disease, the role of oral health professionals, education and awareness, and the effectiveness of the current oral health care systems.
Member of the European Parliament for Romania Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu added: “There is significant work to be done in the EU. Unless we take effective action, the burden of oral diseases in Europe is bound to increase from the current €80 billion yearly to €93 billion per year by 2020.”
The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe comprises the Association for Dental Education in Europe, Council of European Chief Dental Officers, European Association of Dental Public Health and European division of the International Dental Health Foundation. Its activities are supported by the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program and consumer health care companyGlaxoSmithKline.
