Public urged to take advantage of National Health Insurance Scheme
Public urged to take advantage of NHIS for dental cleaning
The general public has been advised to take advantage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to clean their teeth.
According to the Dean of the University of Ghana Dental School, Prof. Sandra Ama Hewlett, many Ghanaians fail to utilise the free dental cleaning services offered under the scheme, opting to visit the dentist only when they experience pain.
She emphasised that although dentistry is expensive, prevention is better than cure.
Prof. Hewlett explained that preventive care is key to improving dental health outcomes, stressing that regular dental check-ups every six months can help identify and treat dental problems early.
“Prophylaxis, which is very important, is one of the things that we recommend every person do every six months,” she said.
She attributed the situation to a lack of education and awareness about oral health, calling for increased efforts to educate the public on the importance of preventive dental care.
She made the call at the Ghana International Dental Scientific Conference, which was held at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons last Wednesday.
The Conference
The conference, which was on the theme: “Current Trends in Dental Science: Bridging Evidence-Based Research and Practice”, aimed to explore current trends in dental science and advocate for stronger integration of evidence-based research into daily clinical practice.
Organised by the Ghanaian Doctors and Dentists Association (GDDA) in the UK, in collaboration with the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, the University of Ghana Dental School, the Ghana Medical and Dental Council and other partners, the conference brought together dental professionals, researchers and academics from Ghana and the diaspora to share knowledge and improve the quality of oral health care delivery in the country.
Commitment
In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Health, Mintah Akandoh, he reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening oral healthcare in Ghana.
It mentioned that the Ministry was developing an oral health policy and strategy that would focus on public oral health education, expanding access to dental services, improving the dentist-to-population ratio and increasing training opportunities for dental professionals.
The Ministry also plans to enhance remuneration and incentives to attract and retain skilled professionals in the field of oral health.
He commended the GDDA, UK, for initiating the International Dental Scientific Conference and acknowledged the contributions of various agencies and partners, as well as celebrated the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between GDDA, UK and the Government of Ghana, which aimed to build capacity, conduct research and deliver clinical services.
The minister emphasised the need for a resilient, innovative and inclusive dental health system that ensures every Ghanaian has access to quality dental care.
The Conveyor of the conference, Dr Pamela Abban Ohene-Djan, also explained that new technologies, such as AI, intraoral scanners and digital imaging were revolutionising the field.
She explained that these innovations were improving diagnosis, treatment planning and patient experience, hence high cost of these technologies can be a barrier, although prices are expected to reduce over time.
