Cost savings from water fluoridation
I have not been very impressed by the Queensland Governments approach to the fluoridation of public drinking water. For such a controversial issue, there has been minimal communication, or transparency in the decision making process, and for good reason. The important claim of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) and Queensland Health that “Queensland residents suffer more tooth decay than residents of the States and Territories where water fluoridation is available” seems to have no scientific backing*.
Some quick research on data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the ABS, shows that Queensland ranks as one of the lowest in dental service expenditure per person. Perhaps the claim that Queenslanders suffer more tooth decay than other States is because the QLD government spends $58/person/year less on dental services. The $35 million rollout for fluoridation infrastructure is much less than the $228 million/year that would be required to increase dental service expenditure to the national average, and so a wise decision for cost savings.
State and territory aggregate health expenditure and average population (2003-04 to 2006-07)
|
|
NSW |
Vic |
QLD |
WA |
SA |
Tas |
ACT |
NT |
Australia |
|
Total health Expenditure ($m) |
111,079 |
83,053 |
63,278 |
33,750 |
26,151 |
7,584 |
6,211 |
4,176 |
335,281 |
|
Dental service expenditure ($m) |
7,016 |
6,271 |
3,120 |
2,267 |
1,220 |
357 |
370 |
211 |
20,833 |
|
Population (000) |
6,750 |
4,997 |
3,930 |
1,998 |
1,539 |
484 |
326 |
202 |
20,346 |
|
Dental expenditure per person ($/year) |
260 |
314 |
198 |
284 |
198 |
185 |
284 |
261 |
256 |
|
Dental expenditure/ Total expenditure (%) |
6% |
8% |
5% |
7% |
5% |
5% |
6% |
5% |
6% |
I’m not saying that fluoridation of the public water supply is imminently dangerous, and I’m not disputing the evidence that fluoride helps to prevent dental caries in 5 to 12 year old children. I know a number of people who grew up on fluoridated water. However, I am very much opposed to any Government policy that removes the public’s ability to make informed decisions on their own health… especially when it is cleverly framed to hide lack of Government expenditure in key areas.
* it was used by the ADA 2007 Water Fluoridation in Queensland Report, which sourced it from Peter Forster’s 2005 Queensland Health Systems Review, who sourced it from Queensland Health’s Water Fluoridation question and answer sheet – June 2005, from where it apparently sprang from, with no accessible legitimate scientific article to back it up.
Friday 05 Dec 2008 | Sarah | Water
My thoughts exactly! Living in an area where we rely on tank water, I gave both of my children fluoride tablets (free from council. They are now in their 30s and their teeth are in good condition. I have nothing against fluoride per se, what I do object to is forced mass medication of a population, giving them no opportunity to express their wishes and placing the onus upon the individual to take expensive measures to remove the fluoride if, for any reason, they feel that fluoride is not appropriate for them. Your figures on comparative dental health expenditure between the states is enlightening and goes a long way towards explaining the Bligh government’s determination to force this issue.
Communities really have to take the matter into their own hands and make it known, loud and clear, that they will not have their democratic rights bypassed in this manner. But then, look what happened with the outcry against forced amalgamation. The government ignored the protests and we are stuck with the unfortunate results.
Some of us are still fighting on but it is difficult when the silent majority do just that - remain silent!
Still, we have the state election coming up and I for one will never again vote for the ALP despite having been a supporter all of my voting life.
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