Children to get free dental checkups until 18

The Ministries of Health and Finance have agreed to triple the dental health services budget. Consequently students aged between 5-18 will be entitled to free dental. Details of the agreement were sent to the High Court of Justice following a petition submitted a year ago by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Physicians for Human Rights, which demanded that the State fund dental treatment for children as part of the State Health Law.

The government budget for child dental care will now total NIS 30 million in 2009 compared with NIS 10 million last year.

The petitioners to the High Court of Justice welcomed the announcement but stressed that it was only a partial success because the government commitment only provides for checkups and follow-up rather than actual treatment.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 7, 2009