Access to oral care and dental health is a human right, says CHR

A dentist uses a drill as she treats a patient on September 6, 2013 in Bailleul, northern France. (File photo from AFP /PHILIPPE HUGUEN)

MANILA, Philippines — More than just a simple health issue, access to oral care and dental health is also a situation that every person is entitled to have, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Wednesday.

“The Commission remains firm that access to oral health is a human rights issue. Across the globe, it is evident that dental services are still disproportionately limited, especially for the vulnerable populations,” the CHR said.

“A rights-based approach to every Filipino’s access to safe and affordable public health services is incumbent upon the duty-bearers to ensure that policies and mechanisms are in place for a stable health system structure,” it added.

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The CHR made the statement following the pronouncement of Speaker Martin Romualdez that the House of Representatives will pass laws providing proper dental care in cities and municipalities nationwide.

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“Proactively, the House of Representatives of the 19th Congress is advancing legislation to ensure every city and municipal health unit includes a dental service as part of its primary health care offering,” he said during the 115th Convention of the Philippine Dental Association.