Extra cash to combat baby deaths

Millions more euros will be made available if considered necessary to reduce the Netherlands’ baby death rate, health minister Ab Klink was reported as saying on Wednesday by the Telegraaf.

Klink was speaking at the formal publication of a report into birth safety, which was widely leaked at the end of last year.
The report, commissioned by the government two years ago, calls for hospitals to have gynaecologists, paediatricians and operating staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week so that emergency situations are dealt with within 15 minutes.
The health ministry is faced with cutting billions of euros from its budget over the next few years as part of efforts to get government spending back under control. But Klink said extra cash must be available for births if health experts think it is necessary, the paper said.