CV
I am currently President of the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe (PBOHE) and Chair of the Council of European Chief Dental Officers (CECDO). The PBOHE’s aim is to collaborate with Member States, Professional Organizations and Civil Societies across Europe to integrate oral health into EU policy and support WHO implementation across the oral health European network. In the CECDO, the focus is on Member States across Europe, to support the EU Presidencies, WHO Oral Health action planning for Member States in Europe. We share knowledge, learning and information to support each other as CDOs.
I am CDO Ireland, where I lead the development of the National Oral Health Policy. My remit includes EU regulations, surveillance, and evidence-reviews re oral health. I work with Departments of Environment, Agriculture, Education, Enterprise and Foreign Affairs to support cross departmental partnerships. This involves working with international, WHO and EU units and attaches.
Embedding Oral Health within A Whole Government Agenda
Historically, in Ireland at Ministry level oral health was not integrated with other health service units, nor categorized as an NCD. Putting in place a National Policy, negotiated across whole of government, agreed by all Ministries was an essential first step. Secondly, integrating oral health into the common competitive finance & performance management systems at Ministry level was crucial. Thirdly, establishing a civil servant populated oral health unit provided a Ministerial focus to progress the agenda. The CDO working closely with international, WHO, EU units, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors and NGOs internationally also raised the profile at senior government level. A Ministerial surveillance taskforce across multiple sectors eg public health, environment, housing, local government, national research agencies & universities ensured shared ownership of oral health impacts. An integrated oral & health surveillance system is to be put in place. Next, we will partner with health professionals & dentists to support the collection of oral & health data to feed the surveillance system. This cross sectoral & partnership model is the intended future approach.
Learning objectives
- Understand the importance and strength of a cross (whole) government approval of oral health policy at national level ie approval across all national Ministries for the achievement of optimal oral health for all.
- Raise the awareness of the necessity to integrate oral health and its personnel as part of the larger health system so that it can have the compete for the same opportunities as all other health areas.
- Appreciate the importance for oral health personnel to foster high level relationships across international governmental and civil sectors where senior government, national, EU, global political and health leaders debate to improve awareness of oral health issues.