I løbet af de kommende fire år vil et brasiliansk tandplejefirma åbne tandklinikker målrettet landets mange fattige. Klinikkerne skal tilbyde kvalitetsbehandling til overkommelige priser, hvilket i dag er en sjældenhed i Brasilien.
SAO PAULO, 28 March 2013 (UNDP): Some one million people are expected to gain access to high quality dental care in low-income areas of Brazil following a commitment by the Brazilian dental franchise Sorridents to the Business Call to Action (BCtA), a global initiative aimed at supporting inclusive businesses.
BCtA encourages companies to fight poverty through innovative business models and is supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and other international organizations.
Sorridents has pledged to nearly triple in size, aiming to operate 400 dental clinics by the end of 2016. Founded by a young dentist in 1995, Sorridents is already the largest chain of dental clinics, either fully owned or franchised in Latin America.
These clinics aim to provide accessible, affordable dental care closer to home, typically on the outskirts of large and mid-sized cities, where real estate is more affordable and most low-income people live.
Sorridents clinics offer a variety of dental procedures, serving as a much-needed one-stop shop for dental care, especially for the elderly and people with disabilities.
“We believe our expansion will help low-income populations do more than just seek treatment during emergencies. It will help them access the high-quality care that is integral to health and well-being,” Sorridents Chief Executive Officer Carla Sarni said.
The company expects this new effort will reach up to one million new patients by 2016.
In Brazil, 75 percent of dentists practice in the Southeast region, which encompasses the states of Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo—and while dental clinics are numerous they are either expensive or low quality.
By franchising in new regions, Sorridents aims to reach low-income patients historically unable to afford preventive dental care.
“Sorridents’ commitment to the Business Call to Action demonstrates a unique and inclusive business model that addresses the need for adequate preventive care in traditionally underserved markets,” BCtA Acting Programme Manager Sahba Sobhani said. “It also allows access to more affordable options in dental care, improving consumers’ overall health.”
While a new clinic requires a modest investment and franchise fee, the company provides rigorous training in all aspects of starting and managing a clinic. Sorridents also assists franchisees with site location, rent negotiation and training of direct employees and partner dentists.
According to UNDP’s 2013 Human Development Report, Brazil has dramatically reduced the proportion of its people who are income-poor—from 17.2 percent of the population in 1990 to 6.1 percent in 2009. But the government-funded health system is overstretched and access to medical and dental care is uneven.
Brazil has a high number of dentists and nearly 200 dental schools, but the market is competitive and many cannot afford to maintain practices. Sorridents’ innovative franchise model aims to keep more dentists working and serving new consumer markets.
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