At today's cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised government dental care for 1.5 million children, by extending care from the age of 10 to 12.
"Today, we will approve a significant expansion of the dental care that we provide for children up to age 10. This innovation was submitted by Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, as you know. When this Government took office, we passed these decisions and 1.25 million children receive free dental care, said Netanyahu, adding, "Now we will expand this to age 12. As I understand it, according to my conversations with you, this means that 1.5 million children will receive free dental care in the wake of today's cabinet decision.
"I would like to tell you what this is about. I received the details: Examinations, x-rays, removing plaque, fluoride treatments, fillings, first aid, reconstructions, root canal, pulling, crowns, and other treatments. There is here a range of dental treatments that once would have cost huge sums and were beyond the means of many children. In effect, Israeli children up to age 12 and Israeli families will receive free dental care as of the end of the cabinet meeting today."
Next year the government plans raising the age for free dental treatment to 14.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 17, 2012
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