Minister Fleur Agema (Zorg, PVV) has brought Bakzeil in the conflict with Minister Eelco Heinen (Finance, VVD) on the supplementary care agreement. Agema wanted to use 400 million euros from a reserve pot of structural use for medical technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and aids, but Heinen only wanted that amount for two years (2027 and 2028). Heinen has now got his way. Agema did, however, be committed that if a positive evaluation follows during those two years and there is enough money, the 400 million will be continued. By that time there is (almost) a new cabinet.
In a reaction, Minister Agema said this Wednesday morning for the Council of Ministers that there is now “perspective on structural financing. In 2027 and 2028 we can evaluate everything and then continue with it. I can live with this. I believe in this.” According to Agema, there was “nothing arranged” for the years from 2029, and now it is. This 400 million extra investment must lead to lower healthcare costs.
According to Minister Heinen, however, nothing has changed in his proposal. He did say that agreements are now “explicitly put on paper. We’re going to see if it works and if there is financial room. We make that balance then. We are going to keep a strong finger on the pulse.” Agema also blamed Heinen that it had been difficult to reach for a long time to talk about this point of discussion. He did not recognize that image, he said. “I am available for everyone who comes with a financially covered proposal.”
In recent days, Agema and Heinen had a conflict about the so-called supplementary care and welfare agreement (AZWA). These are extra agreements at the ended in 2022 Integral Care Agreement (IZA) Between the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), municipalities and many parties in the healthcare sector to keep care affordable and accessible in the future. For the financing of the AZWA, Agema wants to get money from a reserve jar that contains 2.3 billion euros to absorb a possible increase in the demand for care caused by the reduction of the deductible from 385 euros to 165 euros. That 2.3 billion euros is set aside because people will go to a doctor faster due to a lower deductible, is expected. But Agema thinks that the amount has been estimated too high.
Heinen agreed that Agema would use 230 million euros annually that reserve jar for, for example, investments in care training courses and for introducing a free shingles vaccination for people from the age of sixty. But Agema wanted to use an additional 400 million extra every year for medical technology, AI and tools, intended to reduce the demand for healthcare staff. Heinen did not want to agree with that last wish; He fears that the reserve pot will be emptied too quickly.
Now that Heinen and Agema are out of it together, all involved (care) parties still have to agree with the additional care agreement. This Wednesday afternoon there is a first consultation about this, probably a second one next Tuesday. After that, the agreement still has to go to the following of various care parties. Only at the end of this month or early July will it be definitively presented. Agema will explain the proposal this Wednesday in the Council of Ministers.
Negotiations on the agreement have been difficult for a long time. The deadline was first at the end of last year, then at the end of January, and was then moved several times. The Association of Dutch Municipalities and a number of care organizations also left the negotiating table in the interim. They finally returned.
This article is supplemented.
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