Victorian opposition pledges $500 dental vouchers

Australia: The opposition leader of the Liberal Party, Matthew Guy (pictured with Shadow health minister, Georgie Crozier), has pledged that if elected, his Coalition government would make A$500 (US$314) vouchers available to 32,000 Victorians.

The healthcare pledge was made in advance of the 2022 Victorian state election scheduled to take place on 26 November.

Options to get off dental wait list

Addressing a campaign crowd in Melbourne’s eastern districts, the party leader claims the vouchers would benefit half of the people on the state’s emergency dental wait list.

“Providing those vouchers actually gives people options to get off that waiting list, which is now over 26 months,” said the opposition leader of one of the country’s two biggest political parties.

“My plan to fix the health system isn’t just about hospitals – it’s also about dental.”

The vouchers would not be means-tested and participants in the scheme would need to apply via the health department.

Australia’s Medicare program does not cover adult dental treatments, but the Victorian government provides dental services through the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne and community health services across the state. Private dental clinics also provide care through three existing voucher schemes.

ADA backs voucher proposal

The Australian Dental Association’s Victorian branch has voiced its support for the voucher proposal, saying it would help the “ailing public dental system”.

“Waiting times to access public dental care have surged from 20.3 months in 2018 to 26.7 months in June this year,” said its Warren Shnider, ADA Victorian branch president.

“These clinically unacceptable waiting times have a significant impact on the oral health of patients, which in turn compromises their general health.”

Meanwhile Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, announced that his Labor government would spend $44m ($27.7m) on eight new positron emission tomography (PET) scanners if re-elected.

Victorians’ top-of-mind concerns

As Victorians head into this month’s state election, the two most pressing issues on their minds are, unsurprisingly, higher costs of living and an overstretched healthcare system.

On day one, the major parties both made commitments addressing skyrocketing cost-of-living pressures. On the second day, they both focused on the overstretched and overburdened healthcare system.

Based on surveys and polling conducted by The Age news media outlet, health and cost of living were among the top issues that would sway their vote this election.