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Oral health systems in Europe. Part I: Finance and entitlement to care
Published in:
Community Dent Health, Vol: 15, Page: 145-9
Publication Date:
September 1998
Aims & Objectives:
The aim of the study was to compare the oral health systems in 18 European countries
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the oral health systems in 18 European countries. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Semi-structured, in-depth validation interviews were carried out with key informants from the main national dental associations of EU and associated countries. The interviews were structured around the responses to a previously completed questionnaire, the topics and terminology of which had been agreed in advance with the collaborating associations. The resulting descriptions of dental practice and the dental workforce in each country were returned for further validation and correction by the collaborating associations. Ultimate editorial control over the review of each country's oral health system rested with the authors. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Oral health care is mainly financed by government-regulated or compulsory social insurance in seven of the 18 countries examined here: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Switzerland. Providing universal or near-universal coverage by membership of insurance institutions, these systems provide oral health care for about 180 million people across Europe, and almost half of all EU citizens. In the Nordic countries and the UK entitlement to care is typically based upon residence or citizenship, and apart from in Norway and Iceland is provided within a tax-funded and government-organised health service. In southern Europe, Norway, Ireland and Iceland oral health care is largely financed directly by the patient, with occasional support through private insurance. Some publicly-funded and organised services do exist in these countries but generally only for specific population groups (e.g. children, unemployed), or in particular regions.
Authors:
Study Type:
Study Papers » Comparison Study » Descriptive Studies - With a comparative dimension: time, geography, treatment, procedures
Categories:
oral health systems
International Classification:
Dental
Keywords:
- Child
- Child Health Services/economics/organization & administration
- Delivery of Health Care/ economics/organization & administration
- Dental Health Services/ economics/organization & administration
- Dentistry/manpower/organization & administration
- Europe
- European Union
- Financing, Government
- Financing, Organized/ economics/organization & administration
- Financing, Personal
- Health Services Accessibility/ economics/organization & administration
- Humans
- Insurance, Health
- Interviews as Topic
- Medical Indigency/economics
- Public Sector
- Questionnaires
- Reproducibility of Results
Geography:
International (18 European countries)