19% of dentists in the Kildare-West Wicklow area have left the scheme.
A Kildare North TD says dental services for medical card holders have collapsed in the constituency.
The Irish Dental Association says that, of the 2,500 dentists, only 800 are treating medical card patients.
Donnelly ‘concerned’ over drop in dentists in medical card scheme https://t.co/R9SfEzyMEu
— Irish Dental Associ (@IrishDentists) May 8, 2021
The IDA has been calling for reform of the structures of providing dental services to medical card holders since 2006.
Dentists have left the scheme for reasons including a 36% fall in funding since 2017
Data obtained by Kildare North Sinn Fein TD, Réada Cronin shows 19% of dentists in the Kildare-West Wicklow designated health area have left the scheme in the last 5 years.
Deputy Cronin joined Eoin Beatty on Wednesday's edition of Kildare Today.
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