News item | 19-09-2023 | 3:30 PM
Health is important for the quality of life of individual Dutch people and for the functioning of our society as a whole. When necessary, everyone must be able to count on accessible and affordable care and support. Not only now, but also in the future. This does not happen automatically and requires preventive health measures and organizing care differently. The government is working on this together with healthcare parties, municipalities and social organizations. A total of €103.4 billion is available for healthcare for next year. This is evident from the 2024 budget of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Working together on healthy care
The demand for care is increasing, but the number of healthcare workers is not increasing at the same pace. As a result, healthcare is in danger of coming to a standstill. During this cabinet period, agreements have therefore been concluded with municipalities and a large number of social parties within and outside the healthcare sector to implement changes so that healthcare remains accessible, affordable and of good quality. The transformation resources for the Integrated Care Agreement (IZA) will remain available in 2024. This involves €2.8 billion in the period 2023-2027, with which the plans can be implemented from the various regions. This money will be spent, among other things, on strengthening primary care, such as general practitioner care and community nursing. The government is also committed to cooperation between municipalities, general practitioner care and mental health care. Investments are also being made in digitization and better exchange of patient data. For example, €9.3 million is available for electronic nursing transfer, so that (district) nurses spend less time on administration.
Long-term care savings postponed
Elderly care will be organized differently in the coming years on the basis of the Housing, Support and Care for the Elderly (WOZO) program. The government will allocate €345 million for this in 2024. With this program, elderly people are supported to remain independent for as long as possible, and they receive care and support, in most cases at home in their familiar environment. The cabinet has decided not to proceed with two previously announced measures within the Long-term Care Act from the coalition agreement for 2024. This concerns the rate reduction for elderly care associated with the further development of the nursing home care quality framework (€ 100 million) and the rate reduction for the entire Wlz associated with multi-year contracting (€ 125 million). Both measures have not yet been sufficiently developed to be included in the rates as early as 2024. Furthermore, the budget for the implementation of long-term care will be increased according to the regular system (€ 220 million), because more people rely on long-term care.
Youth care reforms
In 2024, the government will continue the plans of the Youth Reform Agenda. In the Youth Reform Agenda, the central government, municipalities, providers, professionals and client organizations have made agreements that should lead to a better functioning youth care system so that young people and families who really need it quickly receive the right help. The Youth Reform Agenda contains a large package of measures to improve youth care and make it financially sustainable. In 2024, a total of €1.45 billion will be made available for youth care. At the same time, agreements have been made with the parties involved about measures to reduce youth care expenditure by €374 million in 2024.
Healthcare premium
Due to wage increases, inflation and increased demand for care, health care costs will rise in 2024. As a result, the basic insurance premium is expected to increase by approximately €12 per month. The total health insurance premium in 2024 will therefore be an average of €149 per month. In November 2023, health insurers will determine their premium for next year. Low and middle income earners are partly compensated for the healthcare premium through the healthcare allowance. In 2024, the healthcare allowance will amount to a maximum of €127 per month. In 2023, the healthcare allowance was increased once to cushion the loss of purchasing power. This increase expires in 2024.
PALLAS
Financing for the construction of the new PALLAS nuclear reactor has been completed. This is a major step to safeguard the future security of supply of medical isotopes. With the arrival of the new reactor, patients worldwide can continue to benefit from rapid access to innovative and affordable nuclear diagnostics and (cancer) treatments. The outstanding investment amount of €320 million has been included in the budget for 2024. This is in addition to the previously released amount of € 1.36 billion. The government also intends to set up a new state participation and has informed the House of Representatives about how the cabinet will manage the costs and planning of the construction project. This means that almost all conditions have been met for the PALLAS project to start. An important remaining condition is the European Commission’s assessment of state aid, which is currently underway.