The Portuguese Dental Association (OMD) welcomes the allocation of 22.5% of the share of health funding, derived from tobacco tax revenue, specifically to oral health.
According to the 2026 State Budget, projected revenue from the Tobacco Tax amounts to 1,675,685,971 euros, with an estimated 33.5 million euros earmarked for the health sector. Of this, the National Program for the Promotion of Oral Health may be strengthened by around 7.5 million euros.
“By converting a significant percentage of tax revenue specifically for oral health, the Ministries of Finance and Health are taking a decisive step towards correcting a historic and structural shortfall that has hindered Portuguese citizens’ access to essential healthcare,” says Miguel Pavão, President of the OMD.
The OMD is pleased that the appeals made to the Government during the discussion of the 2026 State Budget, calling for the safeguarding and reinforcement of specific funding for oral health, have borne fruit.
“Investing in health promotion and disease prevention is a key condition for tackling inequalities in access to oral healthcare and ensuring the sustainability of public health policies,” the President argues.
Oral health as the second most funded area: 22.5% of the allocation
Order no. 2230/2026 includes, for the first time, oral health as a priority area within the funding originating from the tobacco tax, reflecting the significant impact of smoking on diseases of the oral cavity. The percentage assigned to the National Program for the Promotion of Oral Health (22.5%) therefore represents “an unprecedented reinforcement,” which will allow, through tobacco tax revenue, the expansion of consultations, the strengthening of prevention, support for early diagnosis activities for oral cancer, and greater integration of oral health within public health policies.
It should be highlighted that this measure has long been advocated and proposed by the OMD to the health authorities, and was even one of the points included in the proposal submitted for the 2026 State Budget.
OMD calls for extending the measure to other taxes
The OMD is convinced that measures such as this can change the paradigm and overcome delays in access to dental care in Portugal. Therefore, the challenge put forward to the Minister of Health is that, “following the commendable initiative involving the tobacco tax, we now call for the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax to follow the same path of direct allocation to oral health funding,” urging that 30% of this tax be channeled to this area.
Given the strategic importance of this measure, the OMD has already expressed its appreciation to the Minister of Health, demonstrating its full willingness to cooperate with the Government and calling for the implementation of these funds to effectively and fairly ensure a gradual and continuous increase in dental care, positioning oral health as an essential dimension of overall health.
Photo by Shaun Meintjes on Unsplash.
