Dentist Regulation in Hungary


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Hungary, unlike many other countries in which you can find similarly cheap dental care, is a member of the EU, and consequently adheres to the EU’s guidelines and regulations for dentistry. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority (though indeed not all) of Hungarian dentists are members of the dental section of the Hungarian Medical Chamber (HMC), which exerts its own standards on practising clinics and dentists, and which works together with universities to provide lectures and knowledge on the latest and most effective dental procedures. Hungarian dental care is provided either through the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, or privately. If you are seeking dental care abroad in Hungary then you will be looking for a private clinic.

Hungary is an independent state ruled by a democratically elected government. Much like Russia, it has both a President (elected every 5 years), whose power has a broadly ceremonial extent, and a Prime Minister, who is legally appointed by the President, and who otherwise performs a duty of similar responsibility to the UK’s Prime Minister. In 1990 the government transferred the responsibility of healthcare maintenance to local governments, and in 1993 the NHI fund, which works much in the same way as the NHS, was introduced. This is sustained by a portion of every worker’s salary. However, private clinics get no such support from governmental divisions.


Qualifications of Dentists in Hungary

Although registration with the HMC is voluntary, the fact that most dentists nonetheless choose to join demonstrates its prestige. Furthermore the HMC advocates numerous standards, so if a dentist is accepted by the organisation as one of its members, he or she will certainly adhere to a number of fundamental tenets. All practising dentists in Hungary must register with the Ministry of Health, which will grant any dentist of a sufficient standard a government certificate. A dentist must also maintain this licence by attending lectures, seminars or other academic gatherings which disseminate the latest dental knowledge and technology.

Accreditation of Dental Practices in Hungary

Unlike dentists, once a clinic is established it does not have to continually be assessed to ensure that standards are maintained, on the governmental assumption that any dentist of an acceptable standard to practise will automatically extend this level of service to the clinic. However, in setting up a private clinic the dentist must first attain permission from the National Public Health and Medical Officers service. This service specifies a few minimum requirements in addition to the fundamental health and safety conditions any establishing clinic must meet. Otherwise, you may want to find out if the practice is accredited by ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 9001, and then by any other standards boards such as the ones mentioned in the introduction to this guide.

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