Dutch GPs in protest at modernisation plans

Dutch GPs have clashed with their government over pressures to modernise general practice without further investment, before the introduction of market forces.

GPs fear for the quality of their care as demands for larger multidisciplinary practices grow, with the introduction of a new market driven health insurance system on 1 January 2006.

Angered that they are not “being taken seriously” they have begun referring patients to hospitals and physiotherapists “sooner than they normally would.” Typically GPs are referring one or two patients a day earlier than before.

What began as a small regional action has now spread to cover most of Holland's 8000 GPs, …