According to projections, the staff shortage in the Dutch healthcare sector is expected to worsen rapidly, with an estimated deficit of 266.000 healthcare workers by 2035. The planned cuts to the healthcare budget could exacerbate the problem further, which is why nurses and doctors are taking their protests to The Hague.

Worker shortage in Dutch healthcare

The Dutch Minister of Public Health Fleur Agema has provided figures which show the shortage of healthcare workers is set to worsen in the coming years. Just last year, the sector already saw a lack of 44.000 employees. However, this is likely going to be much worse by 2035 as the demand for care is growing faster than the number of medical staff.

By 2035, the Netherlands is looking at a healthcare worker deficit of 266.000 - a number higher than the estimate from last year. The shortages will be felt the most in nursing and care homes and among healthcare workers with an MBO and HBO education.

Agema has stated that her biggest priority is tackling the staff shortage in the healthcare sector. Part of her plans included reducing the administrative burden by using artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies, and making the work and training more attractive to potential workers. These are some of the points included in the comprehensive healthcare agreement being negotiated with healthcare organisations.

Additional budget cuts threaten healthcare sector in the Netherlands

As part of the plans by the government to reduce the cuts to the education budget, more of the healthcare budget is getting the knife. 315 million euros of the budget for the healthcare sector is being slashed, with training for medical specialists just one example of areas being affected. 

Healthcare organisations and medical staff were displeased over these developments which has resulted in the withdrawal of academic hospitals, clinics, medical specialists and nursing unions from the healthcare agreement. “The cuts are a heavy blow to the healthcare sector,” said a spokesperson for the Dutch Nursing Association. “We cannot afford to lose more resources when we are already facing critical staff shortages.”

Furthermore, nurses and doctors are protesting in The Hague on Wednesday to object to the additional cuts to the healthcare budget.