Health Canada has provided more than $4 million to eight of Canada’s 10 dental faculties to help sustain student clinical training, amid reports of fewer patients since the launch of the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
“Health Canada launched a targeted call for proposals to faculties of dentistry to help them address an immediate need to support student clinical training,” the department said Thursday in a statement to Oral Health Group.
“To date, eight faculties have signed contribution agreements under the Oral Health Access Fund for a total of over $4 million,” it added. “As we are still working on some of the agreements, we are not able to provide further details at this time.”
What is the Oral Health Access Fund?
The Oral Health Access Fund (OHAF) is a federal grants and contributions program led by Health Canada. It is designed to complement the CDCP by expanding access to oral-health services, especially for underserved populations. The fund supports projects that train oral-health providers, connect Canadians to care, and deliver prevention and education initiatives to improve oral-health outcomes.
Budget 2023 committed $250 million over three years, starting in 2025-26, and $75 million annually thereafter to establish and sustain the fund.
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University of Manitoba announces funding
In early October, the University of Manitoba’s Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry announced it had received $336,000 from Health Canada. The funding allows the faculty to offer free dental care to patients who are either enrolled in the CDCP or uninsured.
Patients covered at 40 per cent or 60 per cent through the CDCP at private practices will receive full coverage — 100 per cent — at the university’s teaching clinic. Those without insurance are also eligible for free treatment.
The program will operate until March 31, 2026, or until the funds are exhausted.
So far, more than 5.5 million Canadians are enrolled under the CDCP, and over 3 million have already received care, saving an estimated $800 annually per patient, according to Health Canada.