Integration Workgroup Updates and Questionnaire Insights

ERO WG Integration Professor Vladimer Margvelashvili April 17, 2021

. The period from San-Francisco Plenary Session until today was really hard and full of surprises. But I hope that it will finish soon and we ll have opportunity to meet and to work face on face as usually and normally

The problems, what we had in WG before pandemic period, did not were solved, more, they were increased. We can understand the reasons: lock down in many countries made our life and work specific and less flexible. But I hope that now it is passed time and we are looking in future with great hopes and energy!

On February 17, 2021, WG Integration had a Zoom meeting. Meeting attended 10 WG members and supervisors from ERO Board Dr. Edoardo Cavalle. As we know, the main aim of WG Integration is to promote the process of harmonization of regulations and legislations, between European countries oral health and New Democratic Countries. So, the agenda of WG s Zoom meeting was based on this idea.

All WG members agreed to create short, but informative questionnaire for NDAs of NDC. The representatives of 7 countries Belgium, Italy, Israel, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia participated for creation of questionnaire.

. 1. Please indicate the Main Problem of Your NDA that You Would Like the Integration WG to consider. 2. What is your main Wish and Your Expectations from the Integration WG? 3. In your country, Is the Private and Independent Ownership of a Dental Practice by Dentists allowed? How is it regulated? Please explain briefly. 4. In your country, Is the Private and Independent Ownership of a Dental Practice Allowed by Non-Dentists? How is it regulated? Please explain briefly. 5. Do you know the Number of the Number of Dental Clinics % in Your Country? - Private % - Public % - University % 6. Is it Mandatory to be a Member of the NDA to Practice Dentistry? Yes / No 7. Is the Continuing Dental Education Mandatory in Your Country? Yes / No 8. Does your NDA have a Role in the Licensing Process to practice dentistry?

This questionnaire was presented on ERO Board mid-year meeting in March 2021 by Dr. Edoardo Cavalle, and then was sent by ERO Secretariat to the NDAs of NDC - Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kirgizstan, Azerbaijan.

Unfortunately we have only two answers: from Kirgizstan and Georgia. Of course it is 33,3%, but based on this answers and on our experience and knowledge, we can make some important conclusions:

NDAs of New Democratic Countries needs mental and financial independent. It (independent) is necessary for implementation by NDAs their duties and responsibilities. Continuing Dental Education is not mandatory in great majority of these countries.

Without CDE its impossible to maintain high professional level in dentistry and in oral health care of hole population. NDA should support by full or co-financing their member dentists to implement CDE.

Licensing process for practicing in dentistry should be necessary. The leading role in licensing process should load on NDA due many main reasons. To implement above mentioned issues NDA s membership and CE in NDC should be mandatory.

For this reasons Id like to ask to ERO to support for creation official ERO document addressed to healthcare authorities and legislation groups (Parliament) of New Democratic Countries. In that documents should be reflected above mentioned problems. Hope it would help integration process, because harmonization of legislation is the base of integration.

When we are starting to build the building we start from the base and not from windows or roof.

Thank you for your attention!