Yet, according to him, the risk of falling over is greater due to the shortage of general practitioners in our country. GPs who are retiring, for example, have difficulty arranging a replacement. More people also work in practices, because the care demand for patients has increased. “If links are missing there, it will be difficult to continue running a practice,” explains Elzinga.
How many people are looking for a general practitioner?
The Court of Audit wrote at the beginning of April in one report That an estimated 45,000 to 194,000 people in the Netherlands do not have a general practitioner. Between 777,000 to 926,000 people are looking for another general practitioner. That group is registered with a general practitioner, but is looking for a new practice for example due to relocation or because they are not happy with their current doctor.
Professional group LHV can agree that the shortage of general practitioners is getting bigger. According to Elzinga, the shortage in Amsterdam is not too bad, but it is mainly the outlying areas in Noord-Holland where the shortage is great. Regional General Practitioner Organization Try Doctors In Training to be seduced To keep working there.
Who arranges a new doctor?
People who no longer have a general practitioner can report to their health insurer. This is obliged to provide general practitioner care for insured persons. This is called ‘duty of care’: The health insurer will then look for a new practice.
For general practitioner care, it is arranged in the Netherlands in such a way that contracts with general practitioners are made with the largest health insurer in the region. In Zaandam this means that health insurer Zilveren Kruis is now looking for a new doctor for the circa 2000 victims. They do this for all patients of the practice, also for the people who are not insured at Zilveren Kruis.
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