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Healthcare: Eurostat: 82% of Romanians did not go to the dentist în 2017
In 2017, nearly four in ten people (38%) in the European Union (EU) went to see their generalist medical practitioner once or twice in the 12 months prior to the survey. A quarter (25%) consulted their generalist practitioner 3 to 5 times, while nearly another quarter (24%) did not go to see a generalist practitioner. 14% reported that they saw their generalist practitioner 6 times or more, Eurostat informs on Monday.
At EU level, the frequency of consultations of general medical practitioners was higher for women than for men. This was also the case for visits to dentists or general surgeons.
Denmark had the largest share of persons who saw their generalist practitioner 6 times or more (49%) during the previous 12 months, while France had the highest percentage of people (34%) going to the doctor 3 to 5 times. The share of persons consulting their doctor once or twice was largest in Slovakia (47%) and the share of persons who did not go to see the doctor was highest in Greece (61%).
45% of people in the EU did not consult a dentist in the 12 months prior to the survey, while 42% went once or twice to a dentist. 10% reported that they went to a dentist 3 to 5 times, and 3% 6 times or more.
Slovenia had the largest share of persons who went to the dentist 6 times or more (6%) during the previous 12 months, while Germany had the highest percentage of people (17%) going to the dentist 3 to 5 times. The share of persons who did not go to see the dentist was highest in Romania (82%).
While 45% of people in the EU did not consult a general surgeon in the 12 months prior to the survey, 34% did once or twice. 14% reported that they went to see a general surgeon 3 to 5 times, and 7% 6 times or more.
Germany had the largest share of people who consulted a general surgeon 3 to 5 times (23%). The share of persons who saw a general surgeon once or twice was largest in Italy (48%) and the share of persons who did not go to see a general surgeon was highest in Romania (88%), Eurostat further informs.
Some 40% of Romanians never visited a dentist
About 40% of Romanians have not reached a dentist, and more than 20% say they will not go this year either, according to a market study by Millward Brown Romania.
"After 30 years of sustained private efforts, of both doctors and patients, dentistry is showing good signs, but we still have a lot to do. According to the study, in 2018, about 40% of Romanians did not visit a dentist, over 30% of families with children never brought their children for control, and more than 20% of Romanians say they will not go in 2019 to a dentist either," said Dr. Ionu? Leahu, founder of dental clinics Dr. Leahu, quoting a study by Millward Brown Romania in January 2019, local Mediafax reported.
Romania has an oral health system that mainly relies on the private sector while the public health insurance system covers for a small part of the needs in theory and even less in practice. The standard of living is thus critical for the state of oral health.
Patient access to dental services has grown amid a favorable macroeconomic context, increased education and dental market development, and the expansion of large clinics, according to the study conducted in January 2019.
(source photo: shutterstock.com)