Three quarters of Dutch doctors think efforts to introduce market forces into the Dutch healthcare system should be reversed, according to research by health sector magazine Medisch Contact.

In total, 86% of family doctors and 70% of specialists want an end to competition between healthcare providers. Further competition is considered a good idea by 8% and 16% would like to keep things as they are now.
Doctors’ main objection to market forces is the increasing power given to health insurance companies, the survey shows. Insurance companies now have to make agreements with providers based on price as part of government efforts to cut overspending on healthcare.
‘Doctors are seen as each other’s competitor not colleague and this is bad for cooperation,’ magazine editor Hans van Santen said.
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