The question of expanding the benefits for dental prosthetics

The deputies of the Supreme Council discussed at the plenary session the amendments proposed by the Government to the law “On social protection of war veterans”. The law-in-draft concerns the use by war invalids of benefits for dental prosthetics using metal ceramics. Beneficiaries do not have the right to make prostheses from metal-ceramic, precious metals and porcelain free of charge according to the current version of the law. The Government has developed amendments to the law on the basis of appeals from representatives of the Republican public organization "War Disabled – Defenders of Pridnestrovie". They proposed to allow the use of cermets by war invalids – the defenders of Pridnestrovie, the invalids of the Great Patriotic War and other military operations on the territory of other states, including Afghanistan.

There was a discussion of this law-in-draft in the course of the plenary session in the first reading. One of the questions raised by the deputies concerned the categories of recipients of benefits for dental prosthetics. Many deputies said that other categories of beneficiaries would not be able to use this support. For example, there will continue to be a restriction on free dental prosthetics using metal ceramics for disabled people and Chernobyl survivors, whose support is prescribed in other laws. The deputies focused on the need to prescribe a fair mechanism for applying benefits for free dental prosthetics for all categories of beneficiaries and with the use of metal ceramics and other modern materials.

It was noted as part of the discussion that next year 50 people will be able to put prostheses free of charge. The 2023 budget includes 250 thousand rubles for the provision of free dental care and prosthetics for war invalids. That is 5 thousand rubles are relied upon for one patient on average. The amount of compensation will be determined by the Government.

Another point concerns the use of expensive materials. Why not allow the use of precious metals or porcelain if the law-in-draft proposes to allow free-of-charge production of cermet prostheses (according to financial limits). The opinions of the deputies were expressed that beneficiary patients who wish to put dentures should have the right to use the amount of monetary limits in practice, and if the patient wants to restore more teeth, he will pay the difference from his own funds.

The deputies adopted the law-in-draft of the Government after the discussion in the first reading by a majority of votes. The Committee on Social Policy will prepare amendments for the second reading taking into consideration the comments and proposals made. Consideration of amendments to the law "On social protection of war veterans" will continue at the next plenary meeting on December 21. The law if adopted will enter into force at the beginning of next year.