The health care in the Netherlands
is good and the hospitals use the
latest technology, although waiting
lists are sometimes long.
Regular check-ups for babies and children
are provided by the state and there
is an insurance plan for everyone.
All residents of the Netherlands are obliged to have health insurance verzekeriing. Please visit www.denhaag.com for more information. This is often provided or subsidised by the employer. Once you have arranged your health insurance, it is necessary to register with a huisarts or GP. Your GP is your first point of contact for any illness except for emergencies. Your GP will direct you to a specialist as required. For a list of GP's in your area, open the following link and enter your postcode www.kringhaaglanden.nl/index.asp?id=11
Children are given developmental checks and vaccinations by the Consultatiebureau (under 4 years of age) or the jeugdarts (4-18 years of age).
Pharmacy/Apothecary
(Apotheek)
Prescription drugs are available from the Apotheek (Chemist). Many non-prescription items such as cough syrup, vitamins, pain relievers and homeopathic medicines are also available. Please note that some of the non-prescription items can also be purchased (and sometimes more cheaply) at the drogist such as Etos or Kruitvat which is the equivalent to a drug store. Some items, that are readily available over the counter in your base country, are only available on prescription in the Netherlands.
Recept is the Dutch word for prescription. A doctor must issue this. He/she may ask which pharmacy you would prefer to use. It may be a good idea to use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions.
Pharmacists are trained professionals and can answer some of your questions about the drugs you are getting and about minor ailments. Opening hours are usually between 8:00-17:30. If you need a prescription after hours or at the weekend there is usually an on-call Apotheek on 070 345 1000. This is usually posted in the window of your local pharmacy and also listed in the local newspaper under Medische Diensten (Medical Services). This is also where you will find a listing of doctors/dentists after hours or at the weekend, under the 'on call'. The numbers for the local hospitals and ambulances will also be listed.
A list of Medical terminology
| Huisarts:
Family Doctor or GP |
Tandarts:
Dentist |
| EHBO:
First Aid for Accidents |
Apotheek:
Pharmacy |
| Recept:
Prescription |
Spoedgevallen:
Emergencies |
| Medische
Diensten: On-call services |
Verwijs
Brief: Doctors referral
note |
| Particulier
Verzekering: Private insurance
|
Ziekenfonds:
National Health Care |
Prophylaxis
Although
there are no immunizations required
for entry to The Netherlands, the
common vaccinations are available.
DKTP: Diptheria,
Whooping Cough, Tetanus and Poliomyelitis
DTP: as above without
the whooping cough
BMR: Measles, mumps
and rubella
Hib: Haemophilus
influenzae type B
BCG: Tuberculosis
For children the schedule
is as follows:
•
3 months 1st DKTP vaccination
+ Hib 1
• 4 months 1st DKTP
vaccination + Hib 2
• 5 months 1st DKTP
vaccination + Hib 3
• 11 months 1st
DKTP vaccination + Hib
4
• 14 months 1st
BMR vaccination
• 4 years 5th DTP
vaccination
• 9 years 6th DTP
vaccination + 2nd BMR |
|
| A vaccination record (bewijs
van vaccinatie) will come through
the mail. |
Vaccination -KLM Travel Clinic
If you are looking for vaccination centres, KLM has a clinic in town centre just close to the Passage - opposite the Government Buildings. You don't have to make an appointment, just pop in between 8.30 am and 3.30 pm. During summertime also on Thursdays until 8 pm. For more information contact Ineke van Vliet on e-mail: Ivanvliet.health@klm.com or check http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/index_default.html.
Common
Problems
The Huisarts (Family Doctor/General
Practitioner will be your link to
other medical services. To see a
specialist you must get a referral
from your GP if you want your expenses
paid. Most doctors speak English
very well. All Shell expatriate
newcomers to The Hague are entitled
to a visit from ‘Settle Services’
(see 3.4.2.), a relocation service
under contract to Shell. They provide
you with the name and address of
a doctor and dentist in your transit
flat area and permanent accommodation.
The Huisarts is the focal point
for referrals (verwijsbrieven) to
services like Hospitals, specialist
care, Physiotherapy etc.
Most practices close at 16.00 hrs
and don’t open on Saturdays.
To make an appointment with your
doctor, call the receptionist. However,
for minor ailments many doctors
have an inloop spreekuur (walk in
consulting hour) usually between
8:00 –9:00 hrs where you can
walk in on a first-come-first-served
basis. Many doctors also have a
telefonische spreekuur (telephone
consulting hour), for repeat prescriptions
or simple questions.
In The Hague, you can also ring
SMASH (Stichting Mobiele Huisartsen
Service) on 070 346 9669 (from 5
pm to 8 am) for medical advice or
information.
If you need help finding a GP, you
can call The Hague Practitioners
Association on 312 9829 between
6:00 and 1:00 on weekdays. If you
need interim attention while waiting
to register, you can call 0900 8600
for a GP in your neighborhood and
ask if you can receive treatment
as a passer by or passant
First
aid and Emergencies (Spoedgevallen)
The emergency phone number is 112, used for the Fire Brigade, Police and Ambulance. The Hospital Emergency Room is called EHBO. You can go to the First Aid point in the nearest hospital to receive immediate attention for an accident, without making an appointment. Be sure to take your insurance card. They will send you a bill after your treatment or claim it directly from your insurance company.
Clinics
and/or Children’s Hospitals
The Hague
Juliana
Kinderziekenhuis
(Children Hospital)
Sportlaan 600
2566 MJ The Hague
070 210 0000
www.hagaziekenhuis.nl |
Rode
Kruis Ziekenhuis
Sportlaan 600
2566 MJ The Hague
070 210 0000
www.hagaziekenhuis.nl |
AHS
Strijpkade 34
2548 AG The Hague
070 359 0500
|
Bronovo Ziekenhuis*
Bronovolaan 5
2597 AX The Hague
070 312 4141
www.bronovo.nl |
MCH Westeinde
Lijnbaan 32
Postbus 432
2501 CK The Hague
070 330 2000
|
MCH Antoniushove
Burgemeester Banninglaan 1
Postbus 411
2260 AK Leidschendam
.070 357 4444
www.mchaaglanden.nl |
International Health Centre The Hague
Prins Willemstraat 41
2584 HT The Hague
Tel: 070 306 5100
ihchinfo@ezorg.nl
www.ihch.nl |
|
Leiden
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Albinusdreef 2
2333 ZA Leiden
071 526 9111
www.lumc.nl |
Voorburg
MFF Franken, MD ORL
Fonteynenburghlaan 5
2270 AZ Voorburg
070 340 1375
|
* Expat Children's Outpatients Clinic at Bronovo Hospital
Bronovo paediatricians will be holding consultations for expats from 1.30 - 3.30 p.m. every other Tuesday afternoon. The Clinic is intended for children under the age of 18 from expat families. They can attend the Children's Outpatients Clinic for a range of medical problems, as well as for vaccinations and check-ups. Appointments can be made by calling 070 - 312 41 16.
Medical
Insurance
As of 1st January 2006 with the introduction of the Dutch Healthcare Act, everyone living and/or working in the Netherlands is obliged to take out basic healthcare insurance. For further information please check on
http://sww.shell.com/hrservices/employees/expatriate_services/country/netherlands/healthinsurance/basis-zka_application_expats_in_nl.html (only accessible within internal Shell network).
For any specific questions about:
• GEMS, please contact BUPA
International team on + 44 1273
718383 or by email on
shell@bupa-intl.com
• Kroller dental insurance,
please send an email to
expats@kroller.nl or call +31 70 342 2459.
• Other questions, please
send an email to mailto:Central
HR SPS Expatriate Medical Insurance
SI-HRI.
Specialists
Gynaecology and paediatrics
Your GP must be consulted prior to visiting a specialist. With his/her consent a patient is then referred to a gynaecologist or a paediatrician (Kinderarts). For the insurer to cover your expenses they will need to see the referral note.
Having a baby in The Netherlands
In some areas Dutch people favour home births, natural childbirth (no pain relief) and the use of a midwife.
It is recommended you state clearly and firmly from the beginning your wishes regarding pain medication and pregnancy care, as it is possible to get the form of care you would in your own country. For example, Bronovo Hospital provides pain relief if requested in advance
The Maternity Home Care, or 'kraamzorg' in The Netherlands is excellent. Once mother and baby have arrived home there is a period of five to seven days when a 'kraamverzorgster' (postnatal care nurse) will come to your house and help with everything, including feeding, changing, child minding, cooking and even cleaning.
Remember to register
for Kraamzorg at the beginning
of your pregnancy. In some cases
the insurance, or verzekering, will
determine which kraamzorg organisation
you can register with. Sometimes
you can choose your own.
Remember to register for Kraamzorg at the beginning of your pregnancy.
Your baby needs to be registered within three working days after birth at the local town hall ( gemeentehuis ) where the baby was born - not where the baby lives. You may choose to have a nurse register your child or accompany you/your partner to help with the process.
You will need:
• Passports of both parents
• Birth certificate issued by the attending midwife or hospital
• Marriage certificate (if applicable) if both parents are not registered in this country
• Residence cards
If you and your partner are not married, the father may choose to legally recognise the baby either prior to birth, at the time of registration at the town hall or at a later date. As the mother must be present in most cases, the easiest method is before birth. Check with the town hall or lawyer to verify what other requirements there are.
Regarding your baby's nationality, please contact your local embassy to see which steps you must take. Also ask for an International Birth Certificate (for an additional fee) at this time. This will come in handy when registering your baby with the embassy when applying for a passport. You will also need to register your child with the Aliens Police ( Vreemdelingen Politie ). Take an original international birth certificate and passport, if you have one, to the appointment.
Useful sites covering Pregnancy and Childbirth in the Netherlands include:
www.parentinginholland.com and www.greatexpectations.nl
Child
Benefit
The Dutch government provides an allowance or child benefit ( Kinderbijslag ) to assist in the financial obligations of raising a child. You must apply for the allowance and can receive an information packet in English from your local post office or contact the head office of the Sociale Verzekeringsbank in your area.
When you apply for Child Benefit ( Kinderbijslag ), you will be asked to send the list of vaccinations for each of your children living with you to SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank). They will then send you a postcard every time your child is due for vaccination. You also have to register your child with a Consultatie Bureau where your child has regular check- ups and vaccinations. Outpost The Hague can provide you with a list in your neighbourhood.
Dentists
Dentists ( tandarts ) practise outside the hospitals. Team Relocation will link you to a dentist near your transit accommodation and permanent accommodation. GP referral is not necessary. Note that insurance coverage is only partial and that there are long waiting lists for orthodontic care.
You can also look under 'Tandartsen' in the yellow pages ( www.goudengids.nl/ ) or in the online KPN phone guide, where you will also find a 24-hour dentist emergency service Algemene Tandartsen Spoedgevallen . Dental care is expensive and you can get a written estimate for recommended treatment.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is readily available.
Again a referral note is necessary
from your doctor for insurance purposes.
Shell
Health Services
Please note that Shell Health Services
in The Hague provides occupational
health services including First
Aid to Central Office staff. They
also provide medical examinations,
vaccinations and health advice in
case of business travel and transfer.
Generally speaking, they do not
provide GP type medical services
to staff or dependants but are happy
to assist in special circumstances.
You can contact them on 070
377 6113.
Security
In terms of traveller insurance
for residents travelling outside
the EU, The Netherlands has reciprocal
health agreements with Cape Verde,
Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Yugoslavia
(Serbia and Montenegro). Security
issues within The Netherlands are
only those associated with any European
country.
