[ad_1]
In the country’s private dentists, waiting rooms are emptied for much of the day. The number of patients has more than halved in recent weeks.
– Now the government must support with money, otherwise many will go to the well, says dentist Olof Thörne.
The spread of the corona virus has caused many to refrain from visiting the dentist. Stock Photography.
It has its reception at Linnégatan in central Stockholm. When TT talks to him, he has had no patients for a couple of hours and another partner will be needed for the next visit.
Since the spread of the corona virus took off, many have canceled their visits, and the front desk has refrained from calling those at risk. Olof Thörne estimates that more than half of the income has disappeared.
– It is difficult, financially. As for all the others. We still have our costs. The rent remains and the staff says.
Many private dentists find themselves in a similar or worse situation. According to statistics from the Swedish Social Security Agency, the industry organization Private Dentists estimates that patient visits have decreased by 50-60 percent in recent weeks. And that’s an average, says CEO of Merit Lindberg, Private Dentists:
– There are those who have slightly younger patients and those who are a little older. But some have zero income.
And while dentistry, which, of course, has also been hit hard, can probably expect to receive some of the billions of aid to the regions, which is why private dentists are referring to targeted support for businesses, such as reduced dental Employer fees and improving loan opportunities. According to Merit Lindberg, this is not enough in the “very critical situation” in which private dentistry finds itself.
– We talk to members all day, and some are desperate. It is difficult to estimate the consequences of this today. But we know that short-term leave and layoffs will occur.
Industry giant Praktikertjänst is also seriously affected. For more than a week, the healthcare group has given permission to all dental staff – a total of 3,200 employees at 900 dental clinics and dental laboratories. Most now only work for less than 40 percent of their normal work hours.
– And that’s in line with what it looks like in the time books, says quality manager Anders Jonsson.
The Trust Services Board has proposed eliminating the distribution of dividends to owners, but declares that the Group’s financial position is sound. For many smaller private dentists, the situation is more precarious, according to Merit Lindberg: Few have enough financial resistance to survive the crisis on their own.
Back to the dentist Olof Thörne, who has calculated survivability without further support:
– Say I can manage until the summer. But not all colleagues have a financial buffer as in my case. I have money in the barn, but it can probably be more than average.
Billions of industry with many small businesses
Private dental care in Sweden has a turnover of approximately SEK 14 billion.
It is clearly a small business sector where around half of the companies have annual sales of less than SEK 3 million.
The industry organization Privattandläkarna has around 1,400 member companies, corresponding to approximately 80 percent of the industry.
Private dental care is predominant in adult dentistry, with approximately two-thirds of the market, but a small player in pediatric dentistry with just over a tenth.
Source: private dentists
