FDI advocates for improved oral health at WHO Exec Board meeting

Continuing its mission to promote global awareness of the importance of oral health, the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) joined with the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR) in a series of joint statements at the 156th session (EB156) of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board. 

This session, held in light of reduced funding issues facing WHO, covered a range of healthcare items including the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), mental health and social connection and of course, oral health.

In response to the UHC discussion which called for increased public financing and financial risk protection to eliminate impoverishing health costs, FDI and IADR "called attention to the out-of-pocket payments common with accessing even the most basic oral care", further noting "the need to ensure national UHC programmes include a basic package of essential oral health services at the primary care level".

The joint statement also addressed the promotion of oral health through healthy maternal, infant and young child nutrition, stressing the need for WHO and Member States “to recognize [sic] oral health benefits as a key component of healthy nutrition policies” and noted the need for Member States to place a priority on measures designed to prevent and manage oral diseases.

While EB156 achieved its aim of setting the agenda for the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2025, any existing or proposed initiatives will need to be reviewed and prioritised at WHA with FDI ready to assist in this process.