New agreement secures healthcare for 20,000 refugee children

The national refugee settlement agency COA has secured a three-year contract with public health body GGD to ensure that the nearly 20,000 children living in Dutch asylum centres will continue to receive uninterrupted healthcare.

The current contract was due to expire in October while another with a separate health body wouldn’t come into effect until June 2027, leaving a potential 8-month gap that led six children’s ombudsmen to brand “a serious violation of children’s rights”.

“The decision to award GGD GHOR Nederland a new three-year contract brings stability and clarity,” said André Rouvoet, chairman of GGD GHOR Nederland.

“Accessible youth healthcare is of great importance for asylum-seeking children. With this period, we can continue to do what is necessary: ​​provide accessible, expert, and preventive care.”

Children’s rights organizations were concerned that a gap in care could lead to lower levels of vaccination and a decrease in flagging health and mental health issues.

While regular medical and emergency care are available to refugees, without the new funding, preventative care – which also includes consultations, growth checks and developmental assessments – could have fallen through the cracks.