Oral care domes sound the alarm about the number of impending bankruptcies of dentists. Hundreds of oral care practices, which treat approximately one million Dutch people, have informed the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) that they can only “survive a few weeks”, says Vice-President Ravin Raktoe of the Association of Dutch Dentists (ANT) in a conversation with NU.nl on Saturday. .
The dentists are in difficulty because they have been asked by the government to suspend all non-emergency care under the corona measures. “This leaves 2 to 3 percent of all treatments,” said Raktoe.
This sharply reduced income would by no means outweigh the fixed costs of dentists, for which usually 80 to 85 percent of the total turnover is reserved.
Entrepreneurs who see their turnover evaporate, but who do have to continue to pay fixed costs such as labor costs and rent, can, thanks to measures by the Cabinet, appeal to schemes such as the Temporary Emergency Measure Employment Bridging (NOW). The so-called TOGS scheme can also give them financial support. Oral care practices cannot make use of this, however, because healthcare providers are excluded from this, Raktoe explains.
For dentists, the option remains to discuss health insurers, which has already happened. Raktoe: “But the government and Zorgverzekeraars Nederland (ZN) are pointing fingers at each other, so that we (dentists, ed.) Still do not know where we stand.”
‘Finding a solution at health insurers is too slow’
For example, the government believes that oral health care practices should enter into discussions with their main health insurer. That is impossible, says Raktoe. “A dental practice often has to communicate with several health insurers, because their clients are not insured under one roof. No health insurer wants to pay for all costs.”
Talks with the umbrella organization ZN and the Ministry of Health have so far failed. ZN was previously asked for financial help in a letter, but no agreement has been reached between all parties involved. Raktoe: “We have proposed a package of measures that will keep practices going, nothing more. But the urgency on the other side of the table is not at all palpable.”
ZN spokesman Koen Venekamp confirms that signals have been received that many oral care practices are in difficulty and that discussions are being held about help. “We know their concerns and want to quickly provide the desired clarity. We are working hard behind the scenes, but at the moment I cannot say anything about the status of the conversations.”
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The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads from person to person via sneezing and cough drops. The chance of becoming infected through surfaces such as door handles is small. This chance decreases if you wash your hands often.
- You can considerably reduce the chance of spreading by keeping at least 1.5 meters away from others.
- The corona measures have resulted in an infected person infecting less than one other person on average. Previously, this so-called reproduction number was between two and three.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Almost all deaths involve the elderly or other vulnerable persons, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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