If you are dissatisfied about treatment or about a healthcare provider, and you cannot reach an agreement with the healthcare provider, then you can submit a complaint. Read how to go about this below.
If you have a complaint about the quality of care, then you can obtain advice and support from the National Healthcare Report Centre (Landelijk Meldpunt Zorg).
On its website, the Dutch government also provides information on how to submit a complaint about a healthcare provider (only in Dutch). It also provides information on what to do if you have a complaint about sexual intimidation by a healthcare provider or if you want to submit a complaint to the Disciplinary Committee for the Healthcare Sector.
On the website of the Federation of Patients and Consumer Organizations in the Netherlands, Patiëntenfederatie Nederland (only in Dutch) you will find a brochure telling you what to expect of a healthcare provider if a complication, an accident or an error occurs during treatment. It also provides tips on how you can defend your interests and what you can do if you cannot reach an agreement with a healthcare provider.
If you have a complaint about a hospital, you should visit the website of Hospitals Disputes Committee (Geschillencommissie Ziekenhuizen (only in Dutch). There you will find, among other things, a brochure about what this committee does and information about how to submit a complaint (the procedures).
The organisation Independent Clinics of the Netherlands (Zelfstandige Klinieken Nederland [ZKN]) (only in Dutch) provides information on what to do if you have a complaint about an independent treatment centre. It also provides information on what the ZKN’s Disputes Committee does. You can approach this Disputes Committee if you cannot solve the complaint with the clinic.
If you are dissatisfied about dental treatment, you can submit a complaint if you cannot reach a solution with the dentist. Where to do this depends on the organisation with which the dentist is affiliated. If the dentist is a member of the Royal Dutch Dental Association (Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij tot bevordering der Tandheelkunde), then the information about what to do can be found on www.allesvoorhetgebit.nl (only in Dutch). It also provides information about, among other things, the complaints procedures and mediation in the event of complaints. If the dentist is a member of the Association of Dutch Dentists (Associatie Nederlandse Tandartsen [ANT]), you can find more information on the website of the ANT (only in Dutch), for example, about its complaints committee or about their formal complaints procedures.
Damages after a medical error
On the website of Patiëntenfederatie Nederland (only in Dutch) you can read about what to do if you want damages after a medical error. It provides information about, for example, when one can speak of a medical error, how to approach discussions with the healthcare provider, how to go about seeking damages and your rights and obligations as a complainant.