FIGURES released by Labor reveal about 26,000 Tasmanian children benefitted in a single year from a dental scheme expected to be axed by the federal government.
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Health Minister Sussan Ley is closely examining the effectiveness of the Child Dental Benefits Scheme as part of the government’s dental reforms.
She has flagged cutting the program aimed at low and middle-income families, citing a low take-up of the scheme. A review undertaken by her own office deemed the program a success but said it suffered from a lack of promotion.
Figures released by Tasmanian Labor senator Carol Brown show that the scheme provided $6.5 million and 109,000 services to Tasmanian children in 2014-15.
She said the figures equated to about 26,000 children.
“It is especially hard to understand why a scheme that is helping thousands of children is being axed when a review by the Department of Health hailed it as a ‘success’,” Ms Brown said.
“What will these families do when the scheme is axed?”
A spokesman for Ms Ley emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling dental health issues early.
“Right now we are focused on delivering dental reform, which includes looking at the targeting and focus of current programs to ensure both prevention and service delivery is available to those most in need,” he said.