|
Representatives of CED member and observer organisations met in Brussels, Belgium on 21 November 2014 for a regular six-monthly General Meeting, under the chairmanship of CED President Dr. Wolfgang Doneus.
The Council of European Dentists (CED) is a European not-for-profit association which represents over 340,000 practising dentists through 32 national dental associations and chambers from 30 European countries. Its key objectives are to promote high standards of oral healthcare and effective patient-safety centred professional practice across Europe, including through regular contacts with other European organisations and EU institutions.
INFECTION CONTROL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT IN DENTISTRY
During the plenary session, members of the CED unanimously adopted a Resolution on infection control and waste management in dentistry. CED members stressed that all dental treatments should be provided so as to minimise the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
The CED considers that dental practices should follow specific protocols for management of contaminated medical devices and in particular supports the development of unambiguous rules on reprocessing of single-use devices in the framework of the future EU Regulation on medical devices.
CED Resolution: Infection Control and Waste Management in Dentistry
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has increased in the past years and has become a major risk to public health. Antibiotics account for a broad majority of medicines prescribed in dentistry. The CED is concerned with the serious consequence of AMR which will no longer allow to prevent or treat some infections. In this context, the CED together with the European health professionals developed recommendations to raise awareness among dentists, doctors and veterinarians on the prudent and responsible use of antibiotics.
Please find the leaflet here and the press release here
STANDARDISATION OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES
European dentists consider that the recent initiatives in standardisation of healthcare provision at EU level are of increasing concern. The practice of healthcare professions lies in the evidence-based guidelines and recommendations developed by healthcare professions and the direct relationship between the individual healthcare professional and the patient.
To ensure patient safety and high quality of healthcare, organisation and delivery of healthcare in the EU should continue to reflect local needs as well as unique characteristics of national/regional health systems and respect the relevant national laws, professional self-regulation and ethical codes. The CED is concerned that any measures contrary to this principle would compromise the safety and quality of healthcare provided to European patients. | 
