A Sick Workforce means a Low Productivity Workforce

So will Labor and the long term Opposition support lifting Australia's productivity be supporting a National Denticare Scheme?


REPORT WARNS $10B REQUIRED TO FIX DENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM



A report on the state of the nation's teeth has found the nation's dental health is getting worse and a universal Denticare scheme is the solution.

The has found childhood oral disease dropped off in the 1970s but started to creep back up in the last decade, and increased sugar consumption is being blamed.

It has concluded too many Australians have poor oral health and as a result suffer pain and social exclusion.

Poor oral health in childhood can be a precursor to severe disability in adult life and in rare cases death.

The out-of-pocket cost to the health system per year is about $4.5 billion, but the report says the price tag for fixing the system so that those who need dental services can afford them is at least double that.

The report says low socio-economic groups - those in remote areas, Indigenous Australians, the frail and disabled, the homeless and prisoners - are most at risk.

It also recommends federal, state and territory governments invest more than $10 billion extra to fix the system.

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek says the Government cannot afford to take on all the suggested changes at once, but she is considering a staged approach that would target children and low income groups first.

But the Greens say the report should shame the Federal Government into making a commitment to establish Denticare in this year's federal budget.

Greens Senator Richard Di Natale says an extra $400 million should be made available in the May budget as a first step towards overhauling the system.

"We think that's a sensible recommendation along with a range of foundational activated that begin the work to establish Denticare," he said.

He says the review has vindicated his party's calls for a universal dental scheme.

"It's all about priorities. It is a bold and ambitious reform we're aware of that, but we're a wealthy country and we can afford it," he said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/13032216/report-warns-dental-health-o...

I remember reading once how the hospitals could be de-clogged with a much better dental system as many infections etc stem from poor dental health.

I dont think any party is denying more money needs to be spent in this area.

Verge wrote on Feb 28^th, 2012 at 7:57am:


My dentist said the same thing.
He once went off on one about the lack of care that the Australian Governments have shown for near on 20 years in dental care.

He said the bad reputation that dentists get are from people who have left it too late and get the impression going to see them is a painful experience!

salad in wrote on Feb 28^th, 2012 at 8:37am:




So you are calling for a harder line to be taken on plane refugees ... at least now you are starting to reduce your hypocrisy on that issue.


Meanwhile as we all know, Australia is a wealthy country and by lifting Australian dental health, we lift productivity and so financial profit. Bigger return via tax intake and share dividends.

Win, win, win, in all directions.

This is very true bad teeth does have a significant impact on productivity and incentive to work.  Heck if middle class welfare was not ripping so much money off the productive sector for its massive salaries and bonuses our health and quality of life over all would be massively improved as would productivity...

corporate_whitey wrote on Feb 28^th, 2012 at 9:16am:


Early retirement.
Cool.
After working full time since 8/1/75, I won't shed a tear.
Perhaps the government should have the unemployed house cats be more productive might be the way to go, instead of just soaking up taxpayers funds every fortnight without giving anything back to society.

corporate_whitey wrote on Feb 28^th, 2012 at 9:32am:


Oh, woe is corpulant_whiney.
Here, have a hankie.
Now the governments responsible for his rotten teeth.
Do you actually take responsibility for anything in your life?

____ wrote on Feb 28^th, 2012 at 9:08am:


---

"plane refugees"?

What have they got to do with neglected teeth?

Overstayers of visas don't have any claim on any free medicine - I guess some are able to borrow a medicare card from a friend or relative  but not as far as dentistry.

In any case, why attack "plane"refugees - their presence is illegal but t least, they aren't parasites on Welfare as are the boat arrivals without documents.

Must all leftards twist and spin with the truth?