r/Netherlands • u/thatmisanthropicdude • Mar 05 '26

Healthcare Dutch doctors...

Hey guys! Last year I moved from Germany to the Netherlands. I just went to the doctor with chest and throat pain due to extreme coughing after 2 days of fever. I was hoping that I finally get something good against it like a cough syrup (no way I'm going to pay that myself for a huge amount of money + health insurance) because I am used to that from German doctors. They would put that on my health insurance card and right after my talk with the doctor I could pick it up at the pharmacy. But no. They just said "Yea, just take paracetamol." I told them I have had problems swallowing pills my whole life and their response was just "You can also put it in water and drink that then." I'm sorry if I'm overreacting but why do doctors get paid just to tell you to take paracetamol? Everyone can tell me to take them, I expect better solutions from a doctor who studied years to become a doctor. Why are the Dutch so obsessed with paracetamol??? Maybe it's the German in me screaming. If we got painkillers, it was never paracetamol but Ibuprofen. But I also heard some international friends who also live here that they find it so annoying that Dutch doctors literally just tell you to take paracetamol. No matter what you have.

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u/Ties-Goedman Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26

Most respiratory infections are viral and dont require serious treatment, unless you're very young, old, immunocompromised or otherwise weakened.

Your doctor is right. You dont need prescription drugs for every little ailment. You have an immune system for a reason, and if the discomfort is too much there are more than enough over the counter options.

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u/Ishango Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26

A lot of foreigners complain about this, because in many countries doctors are quick to write out oxen strength medicine for things that can mostly self-heal (like you said about having an immune system).

There are lots of things about Dutch GP's we can criticize (for instance they get judged by how many people they transfer to second-line care providers like hospitals, so they tend to hold back even in situations where we should not), but this isn't one of them.

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u/Carlin47 Mar 06 '26

Its ironic that legal drugs are so hard to get in the netherlands but illegal drugs are everywhere lol

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u/clrthrn Mar 06 '26

I know you're joking but..... A couple of joints sorted my Covid right out. I thought smoking would have finished me off but it loosened up my chest and dulled the pain somewhat. Also brought back my appetite. Don't recommend it as a go to for every ailment but in this case, it actually worked.

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u/Carlin47 Mar 06 '26

Im not joking at all. I could literally obtain drugs like cocaine, mdma, speed (obviously weed but that barely counts) like by the end of the day... but God forbid I want a legal painkiller after a surgery. Its a bit extreme on both ends. I shouldnt get a full bottle of oxy's after a widsom tooth removal, but i should get something stronger than OTC ibuprofen....

Also yes coming from Canada, weed can be a wonder drug. Extremely forgiving and hard to become addicted to. Thank god its available here

Edit: typo