Minister of Health and the Need to Pay Special Attention to The Oral and Dental Health of The Iranian People

The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the importance of equal access to basic health care, including oral and dental health care and services. Despite advances in other areas of health care, the oral and dental health care system has faced challenges to meet the needs of the Iranian population. These problems occur due to the imbalance of technical and managerial information between the officials of the Ministry of Health, mostly doctors, and the managers of the dental field. Providing incorrect information to officials leads to decisions without scientific support. Inefficient allocation of resources and monopolization of treatments in the dental profession has caused a lack of fair access to basic oral and dental health services. To improve the situation, it is recommended to take measures such as creating a transparent governance structure, developing a plan to integrate oral and dental health into the primary care system, increasing health and treatment forces in villages, and improving welfare in deprived areas. These recommendations are presented based on a detailed analysis of the challenges ahead and with the aim of improving the oral and dental health situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran.