Dutch hospitals are considering suspending negotiations on the integrated health care agreement due to unexpected budget cuts. Ad Melkert, chairman of the Dutch Association of Hospitals, expressed that trust in the process has been damaged, especially since Minister Agema was also surprised by the additional cuts.
Melkert plans to discuss the situation with partner organizations, including nurses, medical specialists, and university centers. He emphasized the need to remove the proposed cuts before considering how to proceed with the agreement.
The integrated health care agreement aims to restructure the increasingly expensive health care system by fostering collaboration among general practitioners, insurers, and municipalities, with a focus on preventing health issues rather than solely treating them. However, support for the plan is waning. Municipalities have already withdrawn from the negotiations, citing insufficient funding from the government to implement the plans effectively.
Melkert hopes that the Senate will postpone the budget vote until after the new year to allow time for reconsideration and to secure financial backing from alternative sources.
Source: NOS