The Dutch healthcare system needs to be completely overhauled to keep care accessible to everyone, the national health council says in a policy document which will be formally presented on Monday, Nos tv reports.

The RVZ is one of the government’s most important advisory groups on healthcare.
Hospitals, doctors and medical specialists will have to focus far more on providing the treatment which is actually necessary, rather than working on ‘automatic pilot’, the RVZ is quoted as saying.
The role of family doctors will need to be expanded, so that, for example, they can carry out minor surgical procedures, the RVZ says.
And hospitals will have to work more closely together to make sure their services compliment each other better.
Prevention
There must also be a much greater emphasis on prevention, the council says. Many more patients are set to develop chronic illnesses, such as heart and artery disease, diabetes and lung problems.
And patients themselves must do far more to stop smoking, take more exercise and eat healthily.
Patients will also have to be prepared to pay more if they do become ill, the council says.
In January, the council was poised to suggest that health insurance companies be allowed to charge smokers and people with unhealthy lifestyles higher premiums but later said it would not be issuing formal recommendations.