Willem Veerman is a General Practitioner in Nijverdal. For over a year now, he has been involved in the development of Private Health Services, an ONVZ initiative that provides personalized guidance on healthcare and health-related decisions. He says he does this “as a sort of outsider.” At first, he was skeptical. Now, however, he sees Private Health Services as an exciting development in the Dutch healthcare system. “I think the philosophy behind it is worthwhile.”
When Willem first heard about the initiative, his reaction was: “That’s not my thing at all.” The idea of paying for guidance in healthcare went against his principles. Still, he decided to talk it over. What convinced him was the idea behind it: helping people navigate the healthcare system, with a better understanding of the options and the quality of care. “How do you assess the quality of care, and how do you help people make choices? There’s a need for that throughout the Netherlands.” He’s also drawn to the fact that Private Health Services takes a broader view—addressing long wait times and meaningful prevention amid the vast, confusing array of options. And that it’s not just intended for people who ultimately pay for it themselves, but could also be offered through employers in the future, for example.
Most patients trust that their primary care physician knows where to refer them. Willem usually refers patients to the regional hospital: it’s close by, quick, and based on his knowledge of the regional healthcare options. Yet he’s hearing more and more often: “Why do I have to go there? Why don’t you refer me to a hospital like, say, the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek?” Patients have preferences, often based on what they hear from friends or neighbors. “Is there also objective evidence to support the idea that it’s better there? I find that question interesting.”
That answer is hard to find, even for doctors. The information isn’t compiled in one place. “If you ask me about the complication rate after inguinal hernia surgery in Twente, I have to say: I don’t know.” Those who, through their education, work, or social circle, know the right people know who to call when they have a healthcare question. Many people don’t have that kind of network. And by no means does everyone still have a regular primary care physician who knows them well.
Helping them navigate
That’s where Willem sees the value of Private Health Services: helping people navigate the system. Better informed, well-prepared, and with a clearer understanding of their options—that’s what it offers patients.
It’s not a ranking. Healthcare in the Netherlands is generally good, Willem emphasizes. “It shouldn’t become another Elsevier list. The point is to position providers within the healthcare landscape.” So the question isn’t where the best hospital is, but what’s right for a particular person. That starts with asking the patient: What’s important to you? And asking healthcare providers themselves: Why do your peers recommend you? “When you explain that, you often end up having a really nice conversation.”
A critical outside perspective
As an independent family physician, Willem contributes his perspective on what Private Health Services meaningfully adds. “I bring the perspective of an ordinary family physician. If I think something is nonsense, I’ll say so.” A code of ethics stipulates that Private Health Services must not lead to a two-tiered healthcare system and that people must not be given preferential treatment. “On paper, it makes sense. In practice, it still has to prove itself further, though the initial results are certainly encouraging.”
Healthcare Professionals’ reaction
Willem often sees the same initial reaction among colleagues that he himself had. Will this benefit healthcare? Is it only for people with money? Isn’t this encroaching on the general practitioner’s role? “I understand those reactions.” Then he gets to the heart of the matter: it’s not a ranking system, but a different way of thinking about the quality and outcomes of care. And a Private Health Advisor deliberately does not take the place of the family doctor. “They aren’t healthcare professionals, and they don’t give medical advice. They help people go into their appointments well-prepared and provide practical support in often complex processes.”
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