The coronavirus pandemic has shown that the Dutch regional health board network is not up to dealing with healthcare challenges and crises, according to the national body GGD GHOR.

The GGD GHOR represents the 25 regional health boards, which have been charged with setting up coronavirus testing and vaccination centres, as well as continuing regular duties.

Now the national body’s chairman Andre Rouvoet has written to the negotiators working on forming a new coalition government, saying that the next cabinet must put at least €600m more a year into the regional health network.

‘We invest in dykes to keep our feet dry and in education to ensure the best opportunities for our children … but we have neglected to invest in predictable health risks,’ Rouvoet said in the briefing.

‘We need to be prepared for new health crises,’ he said. ‘But we also need to protect the health of people so that they live longer, healthier lives and are resistant to new health crises.’