Exempt Tax on Dental Supplies and Equipment for Infection Control and Prevention

Exempt Tax on Dental Supplies and Equipment for Infection Control and Prevention

Introduction

I.The Need of Safe Dentistry

The provision of universal oral health care is a major goal in public health systems in order to increase access to appropriate and timely oral health care for all. In all cases, the quality and safety of oral healthcare must be assured regardless of various global healthcare settings to achieve the basic principle of health care: do no harm. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine defined six components of quality healthcare in it’s the “Crossing the Quality Chasm” report: safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable.(1) Since the report was issued, there has been a rapid introduction of innovative models for configurations of the healthcare workforce and delivery vehicles to assure the quality and safety of healthcare systems. The oral health profession has been a leader in implementing quality initiatives; for example, they were the leaders ahead of other health professions in incorporating hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations for personnel members a few decades ago.(2) However, safe dentistry needs to be assured in various global oral health care settings that may have different levels of education and resources.

II.Infection Control and Prevention in Dental Settings

Breakdowns of infection prevention and control can occur when proper sterilization and monitoring fail or unsafe injection practices occur. In 2003, and again in 2016, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention released recommendation guidelines for infection control practices in dental offices nationally and globally to provide direction for the public, dental health care personnel and policymakers.(3, 4)Although these knowledge resources are available free online with a mobile apps and other communication tools, health professionals may not know about them or cannot comply with the recommendations when practical resources are not affordable or available. A major review of the available literature on infection control and prevention in oral health-care facilities revealed that the resources and training opportunities for infection control and prevention for oral health are more limited in developing countries.(5) The current infection control and prevention practice in different countries range from dry heat and autoclave sterilization with biomarkers to boiling water sterilization without individual pouch and multiple re-use of disinfectant. Cross-contamination with digital technology and inadequate hand washing was another major concern.

III.Availability and Affordability of Infection Control in Dental Settings

Dental extraction is a common treatment and can be the only definite care option when other treatment options are not available. The basic need for safe extraction includes disposable needles, lidocaine carpules, gauze, sterilized syringes and forceps, safe needle recapping devices, disinfectant wipes, autoclave machine and sleeves, clean water, and a labor fee for healthcare workers. The cost of the disposable items is many countries is about US $1.(6) If we assume that all other dental costs, including the professional fee, is a dollar, more than 10% of world population must pay their daily earnings for tooth extraction. In a survey conducted in Tanzania, the expense for extractions and single surface, one-tooth fillings were compared with daily resources for adult required for basic consumption (DRC).(7) Extractions were found to cost patients an average of four-times their DRC and restorations were on average 9–10 times the DRC.(7) When the cost of standard dental services is unaffordable in low-income countries, it is sensible decision that the cost of infection control and prevention in dental care settings should be subsidized by local and national government to assure safe dentistry.

Scope and purpose

People in poor and marginalized communities, especially in low-income countries, may not be able to access or afford dental care which is provided to internationally acceptable standards of infection control. Policymakers and corporates need to work together to ensure safe dental treatment available and affordable for people from all income levels. While science, evidence and open resources are available, actual changes happen only with coordinate efforts and political will to connect those available resources. This approach to infection control and prevention is consistent the WFPHA Global Charter for the Public’s Health Prevention and Promotion.(8, 9)

Fields of applications

• National public health associations and their members
• Health care professionals and delivery systems
• Oral health professionals and organizations
• International non-governmental organizations
• Academic institutions
• Ministries of health

Call to action

To respond to this urgent need of safe dentistry in all countries, the World Federation of Public Health Associations urges the following:

• Implementation of safe dentistry practice that is available and affordable.
• Implementation of a tax exemption for dental supplies and equipment for infection control and prevention.
• Partnerships between local and national governments and international organizations and corporations to provide practical resources to healthcare facilities that provide dental services.
• Coordinated efforts to achieve infection control in dental settings, especially those in remote and marginalized communities.