Intended for healthcare professionals

News Roundup [abridged Versions Appear In The Paper Journal]

Uninsured Dutch patients are being denied hospital care, say doctors

BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1293 (Published 01 June 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:1293
  1. Tony Sheldon
  1. Utrecht

    The Dutch government is investigating doctors' claims that hospitals are increasingly refusing uninsured patients—such as homeless people and illegal immigrants—their right to “medically necessary care” under the new national health insurance system, which took effect in January.

    Two Rotterdam doctors, who work with homeless people, drug misusers, and illegal immigrants in the deprived inner city, voiced their concerns in the Dutch Medical Association's journal Medisch Contact (Medisch Contact 2006; 61:843) They are treating more than 20 uninsured patients every week who have been denied hospital treatment, they say.

    Marie Kok and Frans Sikken say …

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