The supplementary care and welfare agreement (AZWA) for months negotiated by PVV minister Fleur Agema (care) with representatives of hospitals, specialists, nurses, health insurers, general practitioners and municipalities would be signed on Thursday by all negotiating parties after it had been postponed several times.
Continued on Agree 2022
The new care agreement is the follow -up to the Integral Care Agreement that was signed in 2022 under the leadership of then Minister Ernst Kuipers. The new agreements are also intended to keep care accessible to all Dutch people. This is necessary, because the sector has to do with an increasing demand for care – due to aging – and an increasing staff shortage.
Now no pause button
V&VN, the professional association for nurses and caregivers, is disappointed that the almost reached care agreement is still threatening to die. Due to the fall of the government, important decisions to combat staff shortages and keeping the care accessible are moving forward, the association fears. “The care cannot use a pause button now. We have to go on,” says V&VN chairman Bianca Buurman.
Substantial investments
“We were about to make clear agreements with other parties about the future of care. Think of substantial investments for training and after schools of nurses, carers and nursing specialists. A lot of money would also be released for reducing administrative burdens. That is now being pulled out of the plug at the last minute.”
V&VN was satisfied with the negotiation result that was on the table, a spokeswoman said. But with a new minister there is perhaps an even better deal to be dragged out? “That might be possible, but then we will be a year and a half further. And that is not good for healthcare,” says the spokeswoman.
Responsibility
V&VN therefore calls on the House of Representatives to take its responsibility and allow those measures to lead to the more attractive making care. “Don’t let healthcare professionals become the victim of political standstill,” said Buurman. “Do not slide necessary measures for years. The care cannot wait.”