The Netherlands is a country with a population of around 17 million. Health insurance is mandatory and covers a standard benefit package, including primary care delivered by GPs. There are no co-payments for GP visits.
All Dutch residents are registered with a local general practice of their own choice. One full-time GP provides ongoing medical care to an average of 2,350 patients, covering all ages and both genders. The GP acts as a gatekeeper to hospital and specialist care. They offer out-of-hours services through GP cooperatives across the whole country.
Most GPs work in small practices (2-5 practitioners) located close to the community, and these practices are typically owned by the GPs themselves. Over the last decade, collaboration among practices has increased, moving towards larger teams and organizational networks. These networks have included other disciplines, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and community nurses.
For more information about Dutch healthcare or maternity care, please take a look at the information below and these websites.
For many newcomers, the main difference between medical care in the Netherlands and their home country is the central role of the GP. The GP is your first point of contact for questions about your physical and mental health. The GP also performs minor surgical procedures and, for example, standard gynaecological and paediatric examinations. Additionally, a GP is trained to determine when you need to be seen by another healthcare specialist. Therefore, your GP also serves as your link to most other services, such as other medical specialists or hospitalization if necessary. You can’t visit a medical specialist in the hospital without a referral from your GP.
The first point of contact at your GP practice, whether by telephone or at the front desk, is the GP assistant. The GP assistant will determine the appropriate care and urgency based on medical guidelines and triage. This may lead to medical advice or an appointment with a GP, a practice nurse, or the GP assistant herself. Appointments could be online, at the practice, or at home. GP assistants are medical professionals who work closely with the GP and are bound by a duty of confidentiality.
A GP assistant is professionally trained to provide advice on a wide range of ailments and illnesses. They can also discuss lab or test results with the patient after the GP has reviewed them.
The GP assistant is fully qualified and trained to perform a variety of treatments and tests for patients, either independently or under the doctor’s orders. These include cervical smear tests, urine tests, blood pressure checks, injections, glucose testing, and ear wax removal.
If you have Dutch health insurance, the costs of your visit to the GP are paid for by your health insurer. The GP notifies your health insurer that you are registered in the practice.
If you visit a GP who does not have a contract with your health insurer, you may be asked to pay a personal contribution. A ‘personal contribution’ (eigen bijdrage) means that you have to pay part of the costs yourself. You may have to pay a personal contribution for certain tests or examinations. Your health insurer will send you a bill for these costs.
A yearly health check is not recommended by Dutch GPs. This is because scientific evidence suggests that general health checks are unlikely to be beneficial and may cause harm. If you are concerned and still desire a general checkup discuss the matter with your GP.
Private providers offer all kind of health checks, but these are generally not covered by Dutch health insurance providers.
The infographic is a useful guide to find out what to do when you have medical complaints in Amstelveen.
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English (UK)