Rome 2025
Summary of EADPH Pre-Congress Workshop on Inter-Professional Collaboration (IPC) in Oral Health held in Rome in September 2025
At the 2025 EADPH meeting in Rome, the pre-conference workshop—sponsored by Colgate—sparked a vital conversation: “How can we bridge the gaps in Inter-Collaborative Practices (IPC) to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and achieve oral health equity”.
The World Health Organization (2010) defines Inter-Professional Collaboration (IPC) as a process where “multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, carers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care.” Despite its proven benefits, IPC remains underdeveloped in oral health. However, the WHO Action Plan for Oral Health calls for integrating oral health into Universal Health Coverage (UHC), ensuring that essential services are accessible and affordable for all with three pillars: a skilled and equitably distributed workforce, a responsive health system, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
The event commenced with an introduction from Prof. Huda Yusuf, President of EADPH, setting the stage for an insightful exploration of IPC. Prof. Manu Mathur opened the workshop by painting a picture of the current IPC landscape. Dr. Gitana Rederiene, representing the International Federation of Dental Hygienists, then delved into the critical role of skill mix within dental team to drive UHC forward. The discussion gained further momentum as Dr. Raki Patel showcased real-world examples of successful Inter-Professional Collaboration in oral health, with a focus on aging populations in the UK. Participants were then involved in interactive group discussions. They analyzed IPC in their own countries, identified key barriers and facilitators, and brainstormed opportunities to strengthen IPC in oral health. Indeed, participants highlighted a fragmented yet evolving state of IPC in oral health, marked by both persistent challenges and innovative, but isolated, initiatives. They identified multifaceted barriers that hinder the development and scaling of IPC in oral health, spanning systemic, professional, and demand-side challenges. Then, they highlighted the need for policy reforms, better workforce training, and cross-sectoral integration to unlock IPC’s full potential in oral health.
These insights provide a roadmap for policymakers, educators, and practitioners to drive meaningful change that we will be submitted soon to the journal “Community Dental Health”.