Dentists Contest New Reimbursement Scheme for Dental Services in State Hospitals

The College of Dental Physicians of Romania (Colegiul Medicilor Stomatologi din România) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the way in which the Ministry of Health drew up the new programme for reimbursing dental services in public hospitals, without consulting professionals in the field. This unilateral decision raises questions about the programme's future effectiveness and its impact on vulnerable patients.

The AP-STOMA programme is intended to provide a solution for people from disadvantaged groups, including seniors on low incomes who require access to complex dental treatments. However, the professional organisation warns that implementing it across only a handful of medical facilities could create significant imbalances within the system.

Dental physicians point out that many of the treatments required by elderly patients demand specialist infrastructure — including intensive care units — which numerous practices currently lack. This situation could severely restrict older patients' access to the dental care they need.

The lack of transparency in the allocation of public funds for this programme is another major concern. The College is calling for clarification on the criteria used to select which medical facilities will receive funding, and on how equitable access will be guaranteed.

In order to assess the real impact of the new provisions on patients and professionals alike, the College of Dental Physicians has launched a detailed analysis. The findings of this evaluation will be made public and submitted to the Ministry of Health, in the hope of fostering closer collaboration in future to improve access to dental services.