Healthcare in the Netherlands

: home doctors), often organised in "huisartsenposten" ((acute) GP/primary medical centers) to ensure 24/7 availability, and emergency rooms ("SpoedEisende Hulp / SEH") at hospitals.

Without such referral access to second level care public healthcare centers, and under most health insurance schemes is generally not possible.

The public insurance system was implemented by non-profit health funds, and financed by premiums taken directly out of the wages (together with income taxes).

Patrick Jeurissen, a professor at Radboud University Nijmegen was quoted in Vox as saying "The old system had really hit a wall" due to rising costs.

[4] Insurance companies have to accept everyone applying to this package and are not allowed to differentiate or assess health risk of individuals when setting price levels.

Payments can be either direct or a refund of costs made with a healthcare service contracted by the insurance company.

If the issue seems to be urgent, the caller will be advised to come to the practice, and if necessary referred to an emergency room for more serious treatment.

In hospitals, computerized order management and medical imaging systems (PACS) are widely accepted.

Whereas healthcare institutions continue to upgrade their EHR's functionalities, the national infrastructure is still far from being generally accepted.

A major change is that, as of January 2013, patients have to give their explicit permission that their data may be exchanged over the national infrastructure.

[16] Although not directly tied to one particular university, these are large hospitals that house the full range of medical specialists (hence "top-clinical"), and that can offer both standard and complex care.

[15] Aside from training a lot of medical professionals, each top-clinical hospital specializes in one or two specific disciplines, and conducts its own research to stay ahead in its particular field of expertise.

[17] In 2015 the Netherlands maintained its number one position at the top of the annual Euro health consumer index, which compares healthcare systems in Europe, scoring 916 of a maximum 1,000 points.

On 48 indicators such as patient rights and information, accessibility, prevention and outcomes, the Netherlands secured its top position among 37 European countries for the fifth year in a row.

[18] The Netherlands was also ranked first in a study comparing the health care systems of the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany and New Zealand.

The survey Toward Higher-Performance Health Systems concluded that the Dutch public stood out for its positive views.

[21] Based on public statistics, patient polls, and independent research the Netherlands ranks at or near the best health care system of 32 European countries.

And politicians and bureaucrats are comparatively far removed from operative decisions on delivery of Dutch healthcare services!

[24] In 2010, 70% of Dutch respondents to the Commonwealth Fund 2010 Health Policy Survey in 11 Countries said they waited less than 4 weeks to see a specialist.

Long-term treatments, especially those that involve semi-permanent hospitalization, and also disability costs such as wheelchairs, are covered by a state-controlled mandatory insurance.

All primary and curative care (i.e. the family doctor service and hospitals and clinics) is financed from private mandatory insurance.

is covered by social insurance funded from earmarked taxation under the provisions of the Algemene Wet Bijzondere Ziektekosten, which came into effect in 1968.

The system is 50% financed from payroll taxes paid by employers to a fund controlled by the Health regulator.

Insurance companies compete with each other on price for the 45% direct premium part of the funding and should try to negotiate deals with hospitals to keep costs low and quality high.

The competition regulator is charged with checking for abuse of dominant market positions and the creation of cartels that act against the consumer interests.

Insurance companies can offer additional services at extra cost over and above the universal system laid down by the regulator, e.g. for dental care.

The health insurance companies have to publish the premium for the coming year before the open enrollment period.

To help patients choose, the Dutch government has set up websites where information is gathered (Zorginzicht) and disclosed (KiesBeter) about provider performance.

To take care of these religious principled objections, the Dutch system provides a special opt-out clause.

The set of rules around the opt-out clauses have been designed in such way that people who do not want to be insured can opt out but not engage in a free ride on the system.