Scale and health care

This advisory report was prompted by disquiet in parliament. The Lower House of the Dutch parliament is deeply concerned about care institution mergers.

They take the view that this could have an adverse impact on the quality, accessibility and diversity of health care provision. Accordingly, the Lower House wants the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to have the power of veto over mergers. It feels that a separate merger evaluation procedure for the health care sector is needed. The Minister has requested advice on this matter from the Council for Public Health and Health Care.