Standardisation of the dental hygienist profession in the EU

Question for written answer  E-002678/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Renew)

In the EU, professions, including the dental hygienist profession, are regulated in accordance with the subsidiarity principle. In other words, Member States pursue their own education and training policies. In some Member States, dental hygienist qualifications are obtained through universities, while in others, such as Spain, they are obtained through vocational training.

The European health union must make headway with standardising the profession of dental hygienist in the European Union so that all European hygienists receive the same training and can perform the same duties.

In the light of the above:

• 1.What steps does the Commission plan to take to protect EU citizens’ oral health?
• 2.Does the Commission believe that standardising the regulation of the dental hygienist profession would help to protect EU citizens’ oral health?
• 3.Would the Commission welcome the establishment of a common training framework for the dental hygienist profession, in accordance with Article 49(a) of Directive 2005/36/EC?