Oral Health Systems Reform and Innovation

Aim

To assess the barriers to accessing dental services amongst disadvantaged populations in each country, and to determine the economic burden of oral diseases on marginalised groups. Opportunities for reforming dental services, future financing mechanisms for oral health care, and the closer integration of oral health care, will be identified and tested in exploratory field studies.

Objectives

To assess the economic burden of oral diseases by analysing household spending on dental care, the extent of catastrophic or impoverishing dental expenditures, the extent of dental care avoided due to costs, and the extent of public coverage for oral health care in each country. (Study 3.1)
To assess use of dental services, barriers to access and preferences for reformed dental service provision amongst a population sample of disadvantaged adults in each country. (Study 3.2)
To explore opportunities and barriers for system reform of dental services, specifically in relation to closer integration within health systems; and provision of financial protection for essential dental care linked to Universal Health Coverage. (Study 3.3)
To co-develop and pilot test in each country, reformed models of more integrated oral health care delivery that also comprises financial protection packages to cover essential dental care. (Study 3.4)