Dental Treatment and Oral Health Literacy in the First Half of the 20th Century in the UK

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01622
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 07070:Economic history-related
• Research Institution: Nanzan University
• Principal Investigator: Umegaki Hirotsugu 南山大学, 経済学部, 講師 (50709053)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: イギリス福祉国家 / 国民健康保険制度 / 認可組合制度 / 歯科医療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study revealed the reality of dental treatment under the National Health Insurance (NHI, 1911-46) in the UK. Specific private organisations were responsible for insurance management under the NHI, and they were known as “Approved Societies.” These societies were financially autonomous; some societies had plenty of disposable benefits, while others did not. The former could provide their members with dental treatment, whereas the latter found it difficult to do so. In other words, the economic disparity between societies directly led to a disparity in dental treatment. This situation was ultimately resolved through the National Health Service (NHS, since 1948). However, the NHS, which was based on the principle of free service, introduced charges for dental treatment at the earliest stage.

Free Research Field

経済史（イギリス経済史、西洋経済史）

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、20世紀前半のイギリスにおける歯科治療について、とくに当時の社会福祉制度の特徴との関連性を明確にしつつ、その実態を明らかにした点にある。すなわち、イギリス国民健康保険制度（1911～46年）は、社会保険制度に自由選択・自由競争・分権的自治といった自由主義的要素を採り入れたが、その結果、認可組合間の経済的格差、ひいては歯科治療をめぐる医療格差が生じたということを明らかにした。そして、こうした事実は、今日の社会福祉制度における効率性と公平性の問題について、自由主義的なアプローチが包括的な解決をもたらすとは限らないということを示唆しており、その点に社会的意義がある。