Fed: National shortage of country dentists predicted

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2001
Fed: National shortage of country dentists predicted

A Victorian health official says a national shortage of country dentists is looming
due to insufficient federal funding for university training.

The Victorian government's Dental Health Services chief executive MARTIN DOOLAND is
predicting a massive shortage in the next decade.

He says graduates are already in short supply because of the cost of expensive university
courses.

Mr DOOLAND has told ABC radio, that Australia needs to get into the situation where
universities are training more dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists and some
national planning of the dental workforce.

He says there is a 20 per cent shortage of public dentists in Victoria and the same
problem is emerging in other states.

AAP RTV dep/alt/jn

KEYWORD: DENTISTS (CANBERRA)

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