Driving oral-health transformation in South Africa: The need for a roadmap to implementing the WHO Resolution

Abstract

The World Health Assembly’s adoption of the Resolution on oral health in 2021 was a turning point in the worldwide effort to advance oral health outcomes. The resolution underlines the significance of promoting oral health, integrating oral health care within the primary health-care system, and ensuring universal coverage, shifting the paradigm from a curative to a preventive approach. In this editorial, a prospective action plan is explored that would include a national oral health survey, short-, medium-, and long-term goals, as well as appropriate regulations and procedures to fulfill the WHO’s 2030 target. With the roll-out of the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill, complying with these resolutions are becoming more important and urgent.