SV demands affordable dental care as part of budget negotiations in Norway

The government, led by the Labour Party and the Center Party, currently lacks a majority in the Storting and must negotiate with the Socialist Left Party (SV) to pass the national budget for 2025. The two parties will present their budget proposal on Monday, with SV already outlining demands.

SV leader Kirsti Bergstø stated that the party aims to ensure that dental care costs no more than visiting a doctor. She advocated for reduced dental care fees for those under 30 and emphasized the need for municipalities to provide necessary dental care for individuals over 70.

The initiative has been met with skepticism regarding its financial implications. Nonetheless, SV recently received backing from an expert committee advocating for dental care to be integrated into the health service framework, estimating the overall transition cost between 4 and 13 billion kroner. SV’s proposed discount for dental services for young adults has an estimated cost of around 440 million kroner.

Throughout 2021 and continuing this year, affordable dental care and a free after-school program have been top priorities for SV. Bergstø noted progress in negotiating free after-school care for younger grades, aiming to include fourth graders soon. This expansion could cost around 1 billion kroner.

While the Labour Party’s recent election program calls for a more integrated offering combining schooling and after-school care, financial committee leader Tuva Moflag expressed apprehension about SV’s demands, highlighting a shortage of personnel rather than finances in the after-school care sector.

Negotiations for the budget are set to commence at the end of October, following the presentation of SV’s priorities, with the budget for 2025 needing to be ratified by Christmas.