保健政策における社会的資源の最適配分 : フッ化物応用による齲蝕予防の保健政策を事例として

概要

論文の詳細を見る
The purpose of this study is to consider how to allocate social resources in health policy to prevent dental caries with fluoride applications in Japan. Fluoride applications (fluoride topical application, fluoride mouth rinse, fluoride dentifrice and water fluoridation) have been shown to prevent caries based on mainly on many epidemiological studies. However, dentists, in Japan do not have incentives to positively prevent caries in this way because caries treatment is covered by social insurance, whereas caries prevention is not covered. Water fluoridation implementation is an area very difficult to grain agreement between citizens, health administrators, and members of the health professions because of the need to balance risks and benefits. In specific areas a policy of using fluoride mouth rinse has been carried out for nine years among children between the ages of 4 and 12. The results have show increase in caries prevention and decrease in the DMFT index and dental costs. In conclusion, from now on, in order to implement fluoride mouth rinse in a community, health policy makers will, have to propose an incentive-compatible system that has the positive commitment of both health and education administrators. Alternatively, fluoride mouth rinse agents can easily be obtained in the market. The social insurance system must be reconsidered in order to promote the prevention of caries with fluoride applications in dental clinics.
2005-04-01