The Council of European Dentists notes with worry the disquieting news about the ongoing collective protest action by junior doctors in Poland. Following repeated unsuccessful appeals to the Polish authorities, medical doctors in specialist training are asking the government to raise the level of public expenditure on health care to respond to the health needs of the population and improve their working conditions.

European dentists support the right of the European population to high quality health care that can only be delivered with proper funding. Although dentists are not formally involved in the strike, we express sympathy with our medical colleagues as they strive for conditions that will allow them to provide better treatment for their patients, and hope for a swift resolution of the current situation.