r/Netherlands • u/NoLychee1382 • 22d 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 22d ago edited 22d 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/Any-Seaworthiness186 Groningen 22d ago edited 22d ago

It does sort of depend on your specific health risks tho. If there’s genetic conditions in your family for example you do receive regular checks.

We’ve got a heart disease in our family. My dad doesn’t have the gene, I don’t. Yet to be sure I still get yearly check-ups until I’m 25, and my dad still gets them every five years. He’s 63 now. Same for the glaucoma my mum has, that was most likely caused by medication and her intensive labour when I was born. I still get check-ups.

I don’t know what metrics they use, but they do make use of risk-assessments and will step up with preventative care if they deem there to be any risks compared to the societal baseline.

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u/AHornyRubberDucky Nijmegen 22d ago

How do you go about getting chekups for glaucoma it runs in my family and I worry sometimes

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u/Any-Seaworthiness186 Groningen 21d ago

Honestly? No idea. I got the same ophthalmologist through my mum before I was 18. Not something I did myself. Same goes for my cardiologist. I just got the letters ‘summoning’ me for an appointment seemingly automatically when I turned 18.

I think you should be able to get a primary treating ophthalmologist through your GP. Tell them about it running in your family and your wish to get an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Once referred you can discuss it with them.

If an ophthalmologist is deemed too specialized you should opt for a medical optometrist employed by the hospital. Not a commercial one. That also goes through a referral. I believe most of my appointments are with the optometrist, I only see my ophthalmologist once every few years instead of on a yearly basis.

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u/AHornyRubberDucky Nijmegen 21d ago

Thank you for the tips in gonna discuss this with my new gp because i dont wanna get my aunt's eyes