The introduction of a national healthcare records database is likely to be blocked in the senate, the NRC reports.

The VVD, PvdA and SP, which control 39 of the 75 senate seats at the moment, have grave concerns about the system – which is supposed to enable the exchange of patient records and reduce medical mistakes.
The lower house of parliament voted in favour the system in 2009.
In particular, opponents say there are too many risks in terms of reliability, security and patient privacy.

Access
In January, health minister Edith Schippers hoped to head off objections by announcing that patients are to get the right to decide who should have access to their confidential medical details.
The introduction of the EPD began in 2008 and the system now holds the medical records of some 5.8 million people. Several hundred thousand have opted out of the system, largely due to concerns about privacy.
The aim of the EPD is to reduce medical mistakes by doctors, hospital specialists and pharmacists by allowing access to patients’ records via the internet.