NZDA calls on government to pass languishing water fluoridation bill

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 20. November 2019

save

AUCKLAND, New Zealand: In a recent statement, the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) said it would like to see more cross-party support in parliament for the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill. The bill was introduced when the National party was in power. Now sitting on the opposition side of parliament, National has been encouraged by the NZDA to take a similar approach to the one taken for the Zero Carbon Bill, which had bilateral support.

The Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill amends Part 2A of the Health Act 1956 by giving district health boards the power to make decisions and give directions about the fluoridation of local government drinking water supplies in their areas.

Introduced by the National government in 2017, the then Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne said in a statement in the same year: “Decisions would be based on the assessment of health-related evidence and local needs. Recognition that fluoridating water is the single most important initiative to improve dental health, particularly child dental health, is long overdue and I’m sure this move will be welcomed by the wider community.”

In a recent press release, NZDA fluoride spokesperson Dr Rob Beaglehole said: “National introduced this bill back then [2017], so they must support this. Labour supported it in opposition—and they’re now in government. How about all politicians backing this, for the good of New Zealand’s oral health?”

According to Beaglehole, the bill has been languishing before parliament for some time. Now, with the recent success around the Zero Carbon Bill, he said: “We’ve seen that bipartisan, in fact, multi-partisan, cooperation is possible for the future of our planet, so why not for the future of New Zealand’s dental health.”

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Benefits of water fluoridation may have peaked in rich countries

MANCHESTER, UK: Researchers from the University of Manchester have conducted a pioneering study in the UK focusing on the oral health and economic impacts ...

Water fluoridation receives generous funding in NZ budget

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: The dental well-being of New Zealand’s population has just been given a boost. Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman has announced ...

UK chief medical officers endorse water fluoridation

LONDON, UK: Though the benefits of fluoride in drinking water for oral health are firmly established, it is estimated that just six million UK residents ...

HASS Bio announces global launch of Amber Mill H block and disc

GANGNEUNG, South Korea: HASS Bio, a leader in innovation in dental ceramics, is proud to announce the expansion of its product line with the introduction of...

Mothers with poor oral hygiene can pass on Candida albicans to their infants

NEW YORK, US/KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait: Research has demonstrated the link between Candida albicans and severe early childhood caries. However, although C. ...

Dental stem cells able to generate milk-producing cells in mice

ZURICH, Switzerland: The ability of adult stem cells to generate various tissue-specific cell populations allows for the replacement of damaged cells and ...

Reports indicate government ready to extend HPV vaccination to boys

LONDON, UK: Recently, the British Dental Association (BDA), alongside partner organisations, has called upon the Department of Health and Social Care to ...

Scottish government moves to expand free dental care

EDINBURGH, UK: Currently, NHS dental care is free at the point of use for those under 18 throughout the UK. Part of the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) ...

Researchers develop novel test to detect excess fluoride in water

EVANSTON, Ill., U.S.: Small doses of fluoride have been proven to promote oral health by strengthening tooth enamel and preventing dental caries. However, ...

ADA calls upon dentists to postpone elective procedures

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: On March 17, the American Dental Association issued a recommendation to member dentists that dental practices across the U.S. postpone ...

Education

Live webinar
Thu. 18 July 2024
8:00 pm EST (New York)