Agreement has been reached on reforming long-term care services between the government and three opposition parties, health minister Edith Schippers said on Wednesday evening.

The aim of the reforms is to cut €1bn from healthcare spending, but the government needed the backing of three opposition parties to ensure the legislation gets approval in the upper house of parliament.

Few details have been made public so far but the agreement ensures ‘a good balance’ between the freedom of choice of patients and cutting costs, the minister said.

Freedom of choice

‘All the parties concerned were keen to ensure freedom of choice in terms of doctors in combination with a good balance between efficiency and care quality,’ said Arie Slob, leader of the small Christian party ChristenUnie.

More details about the package are expected to emerge later on Thursday.

The government had earlier struck reform deals with the opposition covering pensions, housing and green energy.

Reforms

The government is planning to transfer responsibility for many long-term care services – for the elderly and handicapped – to local councils and restrict eligibility for residential and nursing homes.

Many people who would now move into a pensioners’ home will be expected to remain at home with the help of limited home help services, family and friends.

At the same time, spending on home helps is being cut by 40% and on daily activities – such as pensioners’ clubs – by 25%. Many local councils are concerned they will not be able to cope.