Solon seeks free dental service in every rural health unit

as 87% of Pinoys suffer from tooth decay

A lawmaker is seeking the provision of free dental service in every rural health unit
throughout the country in light of reports that 87.4 percent of Filipinos are suffering from
tooth decay.
Rep. Angelina Tan, .!. "4
th
!istrict, #ue$on% raised the proposal through &ouse
'ill 4(8), saying it is unfortunate that dental or oral health seems to *e among the least
prioriti$ed health+related concerns in the country.
,-t was recently reported that nearly nine out of .) Filipinos or 87.4 percent are
suffering from tooth decay. oreover, a staggering 7) percent of Filipinos do not visit
their dentists regularly. /f those who visit their dentists, .) percent go to private dental
clinics and () percent to government clinics,0 Tan said.
According to the !epartment of &ealth "!/&%, Tan said tooth decay or dental
carries and periodontal diseases are the two most common health pro*lems in the country.
,The !/& said the country lags far *ehind other countries in the 1estern 2acific
region when it comes to oral health. The country is ne3t to 'runei as the worst in oral
health,0 said Tan, a 4ice 5hairperson of the &ouse committees on 6ocial 6ervices, and
7a*or and 8mployment.
The lawmaker e3plained that dental carriers are commonly known as tooth decay
and cavity, while periodontal disease is a condition where the tissues 9 gums, deeper
supporting tissues and *one 9 around a tooth or teeth *ecome infected and swollen.
-n ()):, Tan said pro*lems related with oral hygiene and malady also accounted for
the highest incidence of a*senteeism among school children *ased on the records of the
!epartment of 8ducation "!ep8d%.
Tan said her proposal is line with the .;8 5onstitution<s mandate of protecting and
promoting the right to health of the people as provided for in Article --, 6ection .:, and of
undertaking appropriate health human resource development responsive to the country<s
needs and pro*lems as provided for in Article =---, 6ection .(.
&ouse 'ill 4(8), now pending with the 5ommittee on &ealth chaired *y Rep.
8ufranio 8riguel "(
nd
!istrict, 7a >nion%, provides it is the declared policy of the 6tate to
protect and promote the right to health of the people. Towards this end, it shall promote
NR # 3529
JULY 16, 2014
preventive dental health care and effective services to address oral health pro*lems in the
rural areas.
The *ill provides for a dental service in every rural health unit throughout the
country to *e provided *y a pu*lic health dentist and assisted *y a trained *arangay health
worker as dental aide.
The !/&, in coordination with the !epartment of -nterior and 7ocal ?overnment
"!-7?% shall issue the rules and regulations for the implementation of the proposed Act,
the *ill provides. "@)% rbb