Norway's government has proposed a major reform of dental care that would eventually see the state pay at least 75 per cent of the cost of necessary treatment for everyone, The Local Norway reports.
Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre described the plan as the possible start of a new welfare reform, saying dental health is one of the clearest social divides in the country. The proposal would write a right to basic dental care into law, include orthodontics such as braces, and keep care free for under-18s.
Subsidies would be phased in, starting with younger adults, and the full scheme is expected to cost about 9 billion kroner a year. The proposal is open for public consultation until 19 January 2027 before a bill goes to the Storting, and the law could take effect from mid or late 2027.
Source: The Local Norway
