News item | 26-03-2025 | 18:15
Defense can call for citizen care reservists at Crises. The Ministry is starting a collaboration with the National Care Reserve (NZR). Civil (former) healthcare professionals are affiliated with this network. They can be used for crises in the Netherlands, but now also with the use of defense. These people are then asked if they want to be a backside in the case of medical defense personnel abroad.
“The world is shifting under our feet,” said commander of the armed forces (CDS) General Onno Eichelsheim today during a meeting of the NZR. “And we have to see where the possibilities and opportunities are.” Such a chance is the further cooperation between Defense and the NZR.
Permanent training
A pilot has been started to shape that collaboration. In addition, care reservists replace medical defense staff. The reservists then perform medical examinations, for example. They also replace doctor’s assistants, nurses and doctors at the Defense health centers.
“Defense also has military reservists with a care background included in the NZR database,” says CDS Eichelsheim. “The cooperation between NZR and Defense is therefore based on reciprocity, with the aim of increasing the resilience of Dutch society.”
5,000 people
Around 4,000 care reservists are now registered with the NZR. The aim is to grow to 5,000, which can be used in crises. The NZR therefore focuses on everyone with a care diploma, but no longer works in healthcare. NZR director Charlotte De Schepper: “We hope it is never necessary, but we can use all these people well.”