Enab Baladi – Ras Al Ain
Patients in the city of Ras al-Ain, northwest of al-Hasakah, complain of the high cost of dental treatment, which puts a financial burden on their access to necessary health care.
The currency used in the city is the Syrian pound, but the cost of dental treatment is set in US dollars and ranges between $50 (750,000 Syrian pounds) and $150, depending on the number of damaged teeth.
Treatment fees are high compared to the residents’ living conditions, with daily wages ranging between 80,000 and 100,000 Syrian pounds. As a result, many people are forced to ignore their pain or resort to less expensive options, despite the risks to their health.
Postponement of treatment or traditional extraction
Khaled Malik had to put off the idea of getting his teeth treated, enduring his pain after visiting the dentist, who informed him he needed a broken tooth filled and asked for $55 for the treatment.
Malik works in the Ras al-Ain market and his income is not enough to cover his family’s daily expenses. He said Enab Baladi that he feels helpless in the face of the cost, adding that his children also need treatment. However, with these fees, she is forced to delay their care until she can afford it.
Similarly, Leila Murad, from Ras al-Ain, said she visited a dentist and discovered she needed to have a missing tooth replaced. The dentist asked her to pay $80 for the procedure.
She added to Enab Baladi that she was unable to secure the required amount and postponed the treatment until her financial situation improved.
Samer Faisal, a resident of Alouk village near Ras al-Ain, decided to visit the local hospital to seek treatment for his teeth, but faced significant difficulties in accessing the service.
He stated yes Enab Baladi that he was surprised by the heavy congestion when he arrived and that after a long wait he was finally able to receive some treatment but was unable to complete it due to the heavy pressure on the hospital staff.
Many people choose to extract damaged teeth instead of treating them because of the high cost of treatment and their inability to afford the expenses.
According to Enab BaladiAccording to his correspondent, some residents rely on “traditional” treatment, as a few nomadic Bedouins perform tooth installations and extractions at prices far below those charged by private clinics.
Imported materials in dollars
The rise and fall of dental treatment material prices is influenced by the exchange rate of the dollar against the Syrian pound, as raw materials are imported, along with the constant rise in manufacturing equipment prices.
Dentist Marwan al-Ali in Ras al-Ain said yes Enab Baladi that the cost of dental treatment is increasing due to many factors, the most important of which are the high prices of the materials used in the treatments.
Among these materials are cosmetic fillings, which are used to treat tooth decay and restore the appearance of teeth. These are imported materials that are directly affected by the exchange rate of the dollar, according to the doctor.
He added that the cost of importing these materials is burdened by dentists, as it includes customs and transportation fees, driving up prices.
The cost of anesthetic materials, used to ensure patient comfort during treatment, has also increased significantly, contributing to the overall increase in treatment costs. He pointed out that the prices of construction equipment, such as X-ray machines and drilling tools, are constantly increasing.
The doctor noted that other materials, such as crowns and bridges, require advanced manufacturing techniques, which also affects prices.
He emphasized the importance of timely dental treatment before problems escalate, as delaying treatment leads to increased costs.
Free hospital treatment
A source from the Directorate of Health in Ras al-Ain (who requested anonymity) said that the National Hospital is providing free dental treatment services to dozens of patients in the area.
He explained that the significant pressure on the hospital has prompted some dentists to inflate the prices of dental treatment, which the management considers unacceptable.
The source added that the hospital provides two specialist dentists who work throughout the week, treating between 70 and 150 patients per week at no cost.
He said the directorate intends to enforce regulations to set the cost of dental treatment among dentists so that they are in line with individual income, ensuring that they do not lead to losses for doctors.
Fragile medical field
The National Hospital in Ras al-Ain, which is considered the main health care facility for the city’s residents, faces challenges related to weak medical staff and the lack of certain specialties, as well as significant pressure.
Compared to areas of northern Aleppo, Ras al-Ain faces acute shortages of support and lives under conditions akin to “siege and isolation”, which hampers efforts to provide much-needed medical support.
In a previous report of Enab Baladiit was reported that there are no ophthalmologists in Ras al-Ain, which puts a burden on patients who need initial examinations or surgeries.
Ophthalmologists in the city are forced to seek doctors outside the region, either by attempting to travel to Turkey or by going to the nearby city of Tal Abyad (about 120 km away).
In addition, most residents in Ras al-Ain go directly to the pharmacy to diagnose certain conditions and obtain drugs that reduce pain and help with treatment, despite the risks involved due to misdiagnosis and inappropriate medications.
Ras al-Ain is located in the north of al-Hasakah province, next to the Turkish border, and is controlled by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), while the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control all adjacent areas. making the Turkish border its only way out.
