Strong concerns about the establishment of new dental schools in Cyprus were expressed at yesterday's meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Health by representatives of the Cyprus Orthodontic Society, raising the issue of the viability of private dental practices, but also the adequacy of the clinical cases required for the education of students.
At the center of their positions was the operation of university dental clinics, which, as they mentioned, offer services free of charge and attract patients from private dental clinics.
In fact, according to what they testified to the Committee, the Company receives phone calls from dentists in Nicosia, who complain that they are losing patients because they choose to turn to university dental clinics.
Representatives of the Orthodontic Society argued that the continuous growth of dental schools in a country with a population of no more than 1.2 million inhabitants raises serious questions about the design of dental education.
Acknowledging that the development of university education is a positive development, they noted that the needs of the country and the possibilities of professional rehabilitation of graduates must be taken into account.
As they mentioned, young dentists find it difficult to secure a sufficient number of patients, which makes it more difficult to create and operate a private practice.
Particular reference was made to the operating conditions of university clinics, which, due to their educational nature, have a different financial and operational framework from private dental clinics.
The Company's representatives argued that the provision of services free of charge creates unequal conditions of competition, when patients who can afford to pay for treatment in the private sector resort to university clinics.
For this reason, they called for clear socio-economic criteria to be defined for the selection of patients, so that priority is given to citizens who are unable to cover the cost of their dental care.
As they mentioned, university clinics must maintain their educational and social character, functioning as a complement to private clinics and not as a substitute for them.
According to the Orthodontic Society, which also submitted a written memorandum with its positions, the uncontrolled attendance of patients in university clinics may weaken the private sector, which invests in infrastructure, technology and continuous education.
Its representatives warned that such a development could also affect the availability of specialized dental services in the long run.
The issue of the quality of clinical education was also raised in the Committee, as the increase in students implies a greater need for cases in which they can be trained practically.
"The uncontrolled increase in the number of students may also negatively affect the quality of education due to the limited availability of clinical cases, which is a basic condition for the adequate training of future dentists and orthodontists."
Representatives of the Orthodontic Society express concern that the creation of more schools, without corresponding availability of clinical cases, may limit the internship opportunities of future dentists.
They therefore called on the competent authorities to review the policy of establishing new dental schools, on the basis of documented data on the needs of the country, the adequacy of professionals and the possibilities of clinical training.
