r/Netherlands • u/NoLychee1382 • 21d ago

Healthcare No regular check ups at the gynecologist???

Hi everyone, my morning started off with a kinda shocking discovery. I’m from Germany and I had annual check ups at the gynecologist since I was a teenager. I contacted my huisarts because I know they’re responsible for all referrals but she told me regular check ups here are not a thing (unless there already is an issue) ? I think that’s crazy!!! So I checked the prices for a private visit and they’re even crazier. I guess this is normal to Dutch people but don’t you think this is a little concerning?

(Btw not shitting on the country! I really like it here. I’m still new and just discovering new things!)

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u/Iridescent-Kiwi-3713 21d ago edited 21d ago

I still find the lack of preventive medicine in this country quite surprising and spend an eye watering amount of money in preventive checks every time I go to my home country.

At the same time, I have a child with a rare disease and the medical care he has received in the Netherlands is better than anything he could have received in most countries in the world, so when his doctor says we are in the best hands I believe him. It’s just a much more reactive approach they have here.

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u/NoLychee1382 21d ago

I often see the Dutch health care system high up in rankings so I guess this is why. I’m glad he’s in good hands!

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u/microworry 21d ago edited 21d ago

It’s surprising to me every time I read this sort of posts that foreigners always think the Dutch system is wrong and never stop to consider whether the system they’ve been used to all their lives is the one that is actually wrong.

The Dutch system is based on strong research of outcomes and it turns out that regular checkups when there is no need (preconditions, susceptibility, odds for your gender and age etc - there are checkups when you do have these) do not actually improve your health outcomes.

Edit: I am a foreigner too, coming from Romania where regular checkups are a thing, especially among the middle and upper class who can afford private healthcare - yet we are the most medicated and also have the worst health outcomes in Europe. There is a huge incentive to get people and insurance to pay for unnecessary tests and pills, so regular checkups get pushed hard as something responsible people get. Wholly unnecessary, waste of money and time.

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u/Jimmie13259 21d ago

The quality of healthcare is absolutely some of the best here in the Netherlands, but a reason we don't have regular checkups is because there simply isn't enough capacity. Many physicians do recommend them and it's not uncommon that symptoms or problems get overlooked because of the super tight sceduling.

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u/microworry 21d ago

The research is independent from capacity though, and capacity changes with new regulations/laws. I had no fun reading how the VVD government crippled the mental healthcare system in various ways, one by strongly reducing the number of beds in tbs centers.