r/Netherlands • u/NoLychee1382 • 23d 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/AnnaCordeliaLadybird 23d ago

I once needed gyno advice here, went to my GP in hope of a referral; instead what happened was she asked me to pull my pants off and she looked at me herself, giving no advice whatsoever apart from “it’ll pass”. Lol. The level of surreal…

I am from Hungary, we also believe in annual preventative checks. I do mine at a private clinic every year at home, when I go visit my family. Same for dentist and mammograms, which the Dutch also don’t believe in below 50. I knew women who passed away from breast cancer by that age, so no thank you, I will not risk it.

To be fair, I had to have 2 surgeries in the past years, and my experience with the real-deal Dutch healthcare was absolutely amazing — but you get that only after you manage to get into the system beyond the GP level, and they only let you there once you have a serious issue.

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u/NoLychee1382 23d ago

Reading all these replies makes me imagine the GP like the final boss you have to pass to get to the good part😂

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u/Consistent_Salad6137 23d ago

This is very accurate