The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe has successfully placed oral health onto the health agenda of the European Union with the launch of their new manifesto at the European Parliament on the 13th February.
They are calling for policy action by policymakers to promote and maintain good oral health and wellbeing for all people in the EU to reduce the
strain on societies and healthcare systems. They have suggested 3 ways in which policy makers can help drive change:
- Place oral conditions at the heart of the EU’s ambitions to tackle the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
- Include preventive oral healthcare medicines within the EU’s Critical Medicines initiative.
- Dedicate funding from EU programmes such as EU4Health and Horizon Europe towards research in oral health.
You can read the manifesto here.
Pictured LtoR Prof. Brian O'Connell Dean of Health Sciences, Trinity College and Dental Health Foundation Trustee, Dr. Dympna Kavanagh, Chief Dental Officer, Dept of Health and Chair of The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe, MEP Deirdre Clune and Max Walsh dental student representing EDSA (European Dental Students Association).