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.
The basic system begins with
verzekering
, or insurance; often provided through
an employer.
Once insured,
a
huisarts , or GP, is chosen as
a family doctor. Your huisarts is
your first point of contact for any
and all illnesses, excepting emergencies,
and your huisarts will direct you
to specialists as needed.
Children are given basic care and
vaccinations via the
Consultatiebureau
(under 4 years of age) or the
jeugdarts
(4-18 years of age), but in case of
illnesses they should visit their
huisarts.
Pharmacy/Apothecary
(Apotheek)
The Apotheek (Chemist) is where one
obtains prescribed drugs etc. You
can also buy non-prescription items
there such as cough syrup, vitamins,
pain relievers and homeopathic medicines.
Note: some of these items can also
be purchased at the drogist, which
is equivalent to a Drug store, and
often they are slightly less expensive.
There are some items, which are only
available on prescription in Holland,
but are readily available through
the chemist in your base country.
Recept is the Dutch word
for prescription. A doctor must issue
this. He may ask which Apotheek you
would like to collect it from and
contact it on your behalf. It can
be to your advantage to use the same
Apotheek for all your prescriptions.
Employees at the Apotheek 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 Tel:
070 3451000. This is usually posted
in the window of your local Apotheek
and also listed in the local newspaper
under Medische Diensten (Medical Assistance).
This is also where you will find a
listing of doctors/dentists after
hours or at the weekend, under the
‘on call’ Doctor, Pharmacy
and Dentist. Also the numbers for
the local Hospitals and Ambulance
will be listed.
A list of Medical terminology
| Huisarts:
Family Doctor |
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. |
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 fire, Police and Ambulance.
The Hospital Emergency Room is called
EHBO (eerste hulp bij ongevallen)
/ first aid for accidents. You can
go to the First Aid point in the
nearest hospital to receive immediate
attention for an accident, without
making an appointment. Take your
insurance card for the hospital
records.
They will bill you after your treatment
and this amount can be reclaimed
from your insurance company.
Clinic
and/or Children’s Hospital
The Hague
Juliana
Kinderziekenhuis
(Children Hospital)
Sportlaan 600
2506 LP The Hague
Tel: 070 3127200
Fax: 070 312 6161 |
Rode
Kruis Ziekenhuis
Sportlaan 600
2506 LP The Hague
Tel: 070 312 6200
Fax: 070 3126126 |
AHS
Strijpkade 34
2548 AG The Hague
Tel: 070 3590500
Fax: 070 3210544 |
Bronovo Ziekenhuis
Bronovolaan 5
2597 AX The Hague
Tel: 070 3124141
Fax: 070 3124425 |
MCH Westeinde
Lijnbaan 32
Postbus 432
2501 CK The Hague
Tel: 070 3302000
Fax: 070 3809459 |
MCH Antoniushove
Burgemeester Banninglaan 1
Postbus 411
2260 AK Leidschendam
Tel:.070 3574444
Fax: 070 3574115 |
Amsterdam
Academisch
ZKS Vrije Universiteit
De Boelelaan 1117
1081 HV Amsterdam
Tel: 020 444 4444
Fax: 020 444 4645 |
Onze Lieve
Vrouwe Gasthuis
Eerste Oosterparkstraat 279
1091 HA Amsterdam
Tel: 020 5999111
Fax: 020 5992299 |
Academisch Medisch
Centrum
Meibergdreef 9
1105 AZ Amsterdam Zuidoost
Tel:020 566 9111
Fax:020 5664440 |
Sint Lucas Andreas
Ziekenhuis
Jan Toorostraat 164
1061 AE Amsterdam
Tel:020 5108911
Fax:020 5108168 |
Bovenij Ziekenhuis
Statenjachtstraat 1
1034 CS Amsterdam
Tel: 020 6346346 |
Slovervaart Ziekenhuis
Louweswg 6
1066 EC Amsterdam
Tel: 020 5129333 |
| |
|
Leiden
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Albinusdreef 2
2333 ZA Leiden
Tel: 071 5269111
Fax: 071 5248111 |
Voorburg
MFF Franken, MD ORL
Fonteynenburghlaan 5
2270 AZ Voorburg
Tel: 070 3401375
Fax: 070 3996032 |
Medical
Insurance
With effect from 1st January 2006,
each individual in The Netherlands
is required to obtain a Basis Policy.
Following the changes, Shell has
taken out Basis policies for expatriate
employees on full EBAS terms, and
their families, with ZKA (Zilveren
Kruis / Achmea), to meet the requirements
of the new Dutch law. At the same
time, the employee and family members
had been registered in GEMS (Global
Expatriate Medical Scheme), administered
by BUPA. These Basis policies are
intended to be dormant, with the
costs covered, on the employee behalf,
by Shell. If the employee (or any
family member) wish to claim benefits
under Basis, it is necessary to
activate the policy on personal
account. Supplementary dental insurance
cover can be taken out, for the
employee’s own account, with
another insurer, such as Kroller.
For any specific questions about:
• Basis and ZKA top up policies,
please contact ZKA on +31 71 364
0488
• 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.
• Other questions, please
send an email to mailto:Central
HR SPS Expatriate Medical Insurance
SI-HRI
Specialists
Gynaecology and paediatrics
Doctors in The Netherlands do not
generally set up private practices
for patients to choose whom they
wish to be attended by. The GP must
be consulted prior to visiting a
specialist. With his/her consent
a patient is then forwarded to a
gynaecologist or a paediatrician
(Kinderarts), for example. For the
insurer to cover your expenses they
will need to see the referral note.
Having a baby in The Netherlands
The Netherlands strongly favours
home births, natural childbirth
(no pain relief) and the use of
a midwife. In all regions of The
Netherlands, midwives are able to
speak in both Dutch and some English,
attempt to answer questions and
offer support. However, it is recommended
you state clearly and firmly from
the beginning your desires regarding
pain medication and pregnancy care
- and you stick to your wishes.
Inform your medical practitioners
that you are from a different country
and want your own form of care,
whether it is a pill, epidural or
perhaps a caesarean section.
One thing that everyone loves in
The Netherlands is the Aftercare
Programme, or ‘kraamzorg’.
Once mother and baby have arrived
home there is a period of five to
seven days that a ‘kraamverzorgster’(postnatal
care nurse) will come over and help
with everything, including feeding,
changing, child minding, cooking
and even cleaning.
Be aware: Register
as early as possible! Kraamzorg
must be requested 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.
Once your baby is born you need
to comply with Dutch law and register
the birth at your local town hall
(gemeentehuis). You have three working
days from the birth to accomplish
this task. 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 unmarried, a letter of
attention needs to be written by
the mother (declaring the identity
of the father) and the couple needs
to bring this and their Identification
(passport and residence cards) to
the local Stadsdeelkantoor /City
Hall before the birth of the baby.
If you want to ensure your child
has a record of your nationality
as well, contact your local embassy
to see what steps you must take.
It is a good idea to purchase two
International Birth Certificates
when you register your child with
the local city hall so that you
have them for nationality papers
or passport requirements for your
home country as well. Don't forget
this type of paperwork is necessary
to travel outside of the Netherlands.
So, don't put this step off. In
addition, some countries have deadlines
from the time of birth to complete
the necessary paperwork.
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.
Child
Benefit
The Dutch government provides
an allowance (Kinderbijslag) to
assist in the financial costs 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 notice
every time your child is due for
vaccination. You also have to register
your child with a Consultati Bureau
where your child has regular check
ups and vaccinations. Settle Services
can provide you with a list in your
neighborhood.
Dentists
Choosing a dentist (Tandarts) is
very much like choosing your doctor.
Settle Services will assist. You
can also look under Tandartsen in
the yellow pages or in the online
KPN phone gids, 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 Tel 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.
