In the Netherlands, the general practitioner is the first point of contact if you have questions about your health or illnesses. Visiting your general practitioner is easy and is covered by your basic health insurance package. This insurance is compulsory and covers a standard package, including primary care by general practitioners. Visits to your general practitioner are not subject to your excess.
All Dutch residents are registered with a local general practitioner of their choice. A general practitioner provides ongoing medical care to patients of all ages and both sexes. The general practitioner acts as a gatekeeper for hospital and specialist care. They offer services outside office hours through general practitioner cooperatives throughout the country.
Most general practitioners work in small practices (2-5 doctors) close to the community, and these practices are usually owned by the general practitioners themselves. Over the past ten years, cooperation between practices has increased, and larger teams and organisational networks have emerged. These networks also include other disciplines, such as physiotherapists, psychologists and district nurses.
Have you fallen ill or had an accident during your stay in the Netherlands? Then it is very important to receive the right medical care. In this infographic explains where and how you can get the right help. Watch this video about the Dutch healthcare system. The Dutch healthcare system is one of the best in the world. The video gives our most important tips for getting care in the Netherlands, what you can expect from your doctor and how best to discuss your concerns with healthcare professionals.
For many newcomers, the most important difference between healthcare in the Netherlands and in their home country is the central role played by 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. In addition, the GP is trained to determine when you need to be seen by another healthcare specialist. That is why your GP is also your link to most other services, such as other medical specialists or hospital admission if necessary. You cannot visit a medical specialist in hospital without a referral from your GP.
The first point of contact at your GP practice, whether you are contacting them by telephone or visiting the reception desk, is the GP assistant. They use medical guidelines and triage to determine what care you need and how urgent it is. This may result in medical advice or an appointment with a GP, practice nurse or the GP assistant themselves. You can make appointments online, at the practice or even at home. GP assistants are medical professionals who work closely with the GP and are bound by confidentiality.
A GP assistant is professionally trained to advise you on a wide range of ailments and illnesses. She can also discuss laboratory or test results with you after the GP has reviewed them.
The GP assistant is fully qualified and trained to carry out various treatments and examinations on you independently or on behalf of the doctor. These may include cervical smears, urine tests, blood pressure checks, injections, glucose tests and earwax removal.
Are you looking for a general practitioner in the Netherlands? Whether you have just moved or would like to switch to another doctor, it is important to find a general practitioner who suits you well. The website Independer.co.uk offers a handy tool that allows you to easily search for and compare general practitioners in your area.
All you need to do is enter your postcode, and you will receive an overview of GP practices in your area. The tool provides useful information, such as the distance to the practice and patient reviews. This makes it easy to compare different GPs and make an informed choice that suits your wishes and needs. Have you found a suitable GP? Then you can contact the practice directly to register as a new patient.
If you have Dutch health insurance, the costs of your visit to the GP will be covered by your health insurer. The GP will inform your health insurer that you are registered with their practice.
If you visit a general practitioner who does not have a contract with your health insurer, you may be asked to pay a personal contribution. A personal contribution means that you have to pay part of the costs yourself. You may have to pay a personal contribution for certain examinations. Your health insurer will send you a bill for these costs.
Annual health checks are not recommended by Dutch GPs. The reason for this is that scientific evidence suggests that general health checks are unlikely to be beneficial and may even be harmful.
Private providers offer all kinds of health checks, but these are generally not covered by Dutch health insurers.
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