For example, expensive MRI scans may be ordered for people with minor back pain, causing unnecessary anxiety – and also contributing to healthcare inflation. Healthcare providers are often incentivized to provide more care or diagnostics than is really necessary. Medicine requires only a single interaction with the patient and is therefore faster in each individual case, yet more expensive collectively over the long term. The current system revolves around treating disease, as doctors do not have enough time to motivate people to lead a healthier lifestyle. Unnecessary referrals blocking the system.Īs a result of the fact that there are no avenues available for people to take preventive or early action, people with minor care needs are often wrongly referred to specialized care, which means that patients with serious conditions, who need care the most, are put on waiting lists, causing unnecessary blockages in the system. This is where preventive care can offer a solution. An additional avenue is needed to support those who do not have serious health problems but are not perfectly healthy either. They either do nothing until they need urgent medical attention, or they partake in an elaborate treatment. When people have minor health complaints, there are currently two solutions available. And these monthly costs are expected to rise to beyond €800 by 2040.īut what is driving the increase? Within the current health care system, care is often used incorrectly or unnecessarily for several reasons. Since 1998, average monthly healthcare costs per person have more than tripled, from approximately €150 per month to more than €500. The average individual spends three hours a day watching television, with teenagers spending an additional three hours daily playing computer games and using social media channels.Īs a result of these behavior patterns, the increasing need for treatment is having a direct impact on the cost of healthcare in the Netherlands, widening the gap between and the young and the old, and the rich and the poor in our society. The healthcare system faces a ticking time bomb in the years ahead as it will struggle to cope with ever-increasing demand for diagnosis and treatment, partly driven by the growing prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles, even among the younger generations.Ĭonsider that 48% of the Dutch population do not exercise sufficiently, 20% smoke, 16% suffer from burn-out complaints, and less than 10% follow the public health institute (RIVM) recommended diet. Traditionally, healthcare professionals and policymakers have viewed the increase in life expectancy as a positive thing, an indication of successful care outcomes.īut since the gap between life expectancy and health span has grown larger, people are mostly extending the part of their lives lived in poor health.
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