A SURVEY OF REGISTRATION COSTS OF EUROPEAN UNION DENTISTS - INTERIM RESULTS

Abstract

In 2004/2005 a survey of Competent Authorities (Registration organisations) involved with dentistry in the European Union (EU) was performed. A follow up survey, performed by the Federation of European Dental Competent Authorities and Regulators Bodies (FEDCAR) and the Council of European Chief Dental Officers (CECDO) commenced in 2015. The aim of this survey was to ascertain the current costs of initial registration for a dentist and of annual (retention) fees thereafter, and to compare them with those reported in 2005.

Methods: The same questionnaire as used in the previous survey was employed. It included questions on initial and ongoing registration fees for dentists and dental specialists. Gross National Income (GNI) (formerly GNP) per capita data were obtained from the World Bank and the fees were then calculated as a percentage of GNI and compared with those in 2004/2005. We report interim results on registration costs.

Results: In 2004/2005, 25 EU Member States (EUMS) responded to the survey. To date 17 EU Member States have responded to the current survey, of which 17 provided data on fees. In 6 (EUMS) no initial registration fee is charged. In those where one is charged, the range was from €3.70 in the Czech Republic to €1142 in the United Kingdom. In the 17 EUMS National GNI ranged from € 67,366 in Luxembourg to €21,109 in Hungary. Initial registration fees as a percentage of GNP ranged from 3% in the UK to 0.02% in the Czech Republic. Annual retention fees were charged in 12 EUMS and ranged from €1142 in the UK to €35 in Malta. Fees for registration as specialists were charged in 8 of the 17 EUMS.

Conclusions: The interim results from 17 EUMS and those from the previous survey indicate that there are wide variations in the practice of charging or not charging initial and retention registration fees to general dentists and dental specialists and in the cost of these fees EUMS.