The Dutch health care system
The 'Huisarts' (family doctor)
One thing about the Dutch healthcare system might strike you as unusual: the predominant role of the ‘huisarts’ (family doctor or general practitioner). Once you have moved into your new house, you should immediately start finding a surgery close to your home and make an appointment to meet the 'huisarts'. In principal, you only choose your doctor once, so be sure you like and trust him or her enough to register. If not, feel free to find another doctor. Once you’ve registered, it’s much more difficult to change. To find a huisarts near you, see the list under "huisartsen" .
The ‘huisarts’ is your family doctor. He treats common health problems himself first, and -if necessary- acts as your gateway to physiotherapists, psychologists, different specialist physicians in hospitals and all other medical services. You must call the surgery and make an appointment with his secretary in advance if you wish to visit the surgery, want the doctor to come to your home if you are unable to go yourself or for telephone enquiries (all in office hours).
Emergencies
Medical services are available throughout the city 24/7.
- Outside regular hours, for urgent matters you can call the central medical station (‘Huisartsenpost') to consult the doctor on duty. All doctors in the region work at the Huisartsenpost by rotation. It is not usual to visit the Emergency Room of a hospital directly without consulting the Huisartsenpost. If the doctor on duty thinks it is necessary, you can visit the Huisartsenpost or the doctor will come to your home. Address: Gerard van Swietenlaan 3, 6525 GB Nijmegen, telephone 0900-8880.
- In life threatening situations you should always call 1-1-2, which is the emergency telephoneline to get help from the ambulance, police and fire department.
The two main hospitals in Nijmegen are called the Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ) and University Medical Centre (UMC) St. Radboud. Another St. Maartens Clinic (St. Maartenskliniek) is specialised in posture and movement disorders.
The 'tandarts' (dentist)
You can choose a 'tandarts' near your home yourself: see under "tandartsen". Usually you visit your dentist about twice a year for a check-up and extra appointments are made for any necessary treatment. Depending on your supplementary insurance package, some or most costs are covered. Call the practice to enquire whether the dentist accepts new patients; unfortunately some have a waiting list. Outside office hours, your dentist’s answering machine will tell you which dentist is available 24/7 for emergencies (they work on rotation).
Pharmacies
Medication prescribed by your family doctor, dentist or hospital physicians can only be bought at pharmacies. These are usually open during office hours and operate in rotation to ensure coverage throughout the city 24/7 as well. ‘Lighter’ drugs such as aspirin can also be bought at all drugstores. See under "apotheken".
Insurance
A basic insurance package defined by the government is mandatory for everyone living in the Netherlands. Supplementary insurance packages are optionally available at extra cost. Insurance companies must accept all applicants. Read more on the website of the Dutch ministry of health.
Please visit the English website of the union of Dutch healthcare insurers: www.zn.nl/international for information on all Dutch health insurance companies.
