More than half of Dutch general practices are no longer accepting new patients. Over the past five years, the number of practices with a patient stop has risen from 48 to 60 percent.
This is despite the fact that the Dutch are more likely to consult their GP due to the aging population, because the elderly are living longer at home and young people are also visiting the doctor more often. This is stated in the report ‘The general practitioner market in the picture’ that ABN Amro is presenting today.
Each health insurer has its own waiting list
It is not recorded anywhere exactly how many Dutch people are without a regular GP, but ‘there will be many,’ suspects Maarten den Heijer, sector specialist at ABN Amro. Only those who raise the alarm with their health insurer are identified by the relevant insurer. Each health insurer has its own waiting list. For example, 550 people are currently waiting for a regular GP at Zilveren Kruis, 828 at Menzis and 800 at CZ.
Health insurers are seeing an increase in the number of policyholders waiting for a regular GP. Insurers are finding it increasingly difficult to find a solution for all those waiting. “We can often help people, but not always,” said a CZ spokesperson. Most practices are overcrowded.
For example, people who are looking for a new GP after moving house find out that most GPs have no room. Sixty percent of GP practices have a patient stop, according to the report ‘The GP market in the picture’ that ABN Amro will present this Wednesday.
The lack of general practitioners is spread throughout the Netherlands
“Initially, we saw the shortage mainly in Drenthe, Zeeland, Twente and the Kop van Noord-Holland, but the lack of general practitioners has now spread throughout the Netherlands. With Amsterdam as the only positive exception,” says a spokesperson for the National Association of General Practitioners (LHV).
Health insurers have a duty to come up with solutions for their policyholders. “When people knock on our door because they cannot find a GP, a few calls are usually enough to find a GP who still has room, but sometimes it does not work,” says a CZ spokesperson. “Sometimes practices are full, but they make an exception. For example, with seriously ill or terminal patients.”
The problem is that many GP practices are overcrowded. “A standard practice has 2100 patients, but most general practitioners have many more patients,” says Maarten den Heijer, medical professions sector specialist at ABN Amro.
The patient stops are no surprise to Den Heijer. In a report that ABN Amro made two years ago, this was already warned, he says. “Unfortunately, too little has happened in the meantime.”
The Capacity Body recently advised the Ministry of Health to increase the number of training places for general practitioners from 850 to 1190 in 2023. But ‘even with the extra training places, there is still a gap between the actual number of general practitioners and the number of doctors needed’, said the LHV spokesperson.
‘The new generation of GPs usually want to work part-time’
Nearly 2,500 GPs (16.5 percent) are now 60 years or older. Many will retire between now and five years, the report said. “The group that is now leaving often works full-time. The new generation of GPs usually want to work part-time. It often takes two doctors to replace an outgoing doctor.”
The Integral Care Agreement, which was also signed by general practitioners in January, contains agreements that should ensure that the Dutch can also go to the doctor in the future. “It is crucial that the administrative burden is reduced and that there is more cooperation with other healthcare parties and the social domain. Healthcare is now very fragmented. The GP also has to innovate itself, ”says Den Heijer.