158th Session of WHO Executive Board (EB158)

Provisional agenda item 10: Primary healthcare

(Document EB158/14)

FDI World Dental Federation applauds WHO’s efforts to strengthen PHC-oriented, people-centred care and commends initiatives advancing PHC at regional and national levels.

Despite being preventable, manageable through addressing common risk factors, and treatable in primary care, oral diseases affect 3.7 billion people worldwide. They disproportionately impact vulnerable and underserved populations and place a heavy burden on health systems. Integrating oral health into PHC is recognized as a cost-effective approach to strengthen prevention, expand access to essential oral health services over the life-course, and advance health equity.

To address widening disparities in access to oral healthcare, prevent avoidable suffering, and save lives, FDI calls on Member States to prioritize oral health within PHC reforms by empowering communities, addressing broader determinants, and ensuring access to essential oral healthcare.