Minister Agema is very concerned about healthcare cuts

Minister Agema of Health is having great difficulty with the new cuts in healthcare. In recent days, the coalition and opposition agreed to reverse some of the cuts to education. This will be paid for, among other things, by cutting further training in specialist medical care and the salaries of specialists. The House of Representatives approved the adjustments yesterday.

Agema says that she has been planning to tackle the excesses in the salaries of specialists for some time, but that she has difficulty with interventions in training. According to her, this not only concerns specialists, but also nurses, for example: “I am very concerned about that. This has hit me hard.”

She says she also warned the negotiating parties of the consequences “when she heard about it in the media.” Agema acknowledges that the House has the right to adjust the budget, but adds: “The healthcare labor market is in dire straits. If even more cuts are made now, how will we still have people at the bedside? ” She now wants to first map out the precise consequences of the adjustments and will also discuss this with the healthcare sector.

Agema’s colleague Heinen from Finance responds more laconic. He says that he was indirectly involved in the negotiations: “I checked whether the sums were correct. I see this as proper coverage. Yesterday all adjustments to budgets were adopted. This means that the cuts have been included.”

About Agema’s concerns, he adds: “We think it is possible. I assume that she has been updated by Mr Wilders.”