The Council on Public Health and Health Care (RVZ), an independent advisory body to the Dutch government, says health care in the Netherlands must be radically reformed if costs are to be kept under control.

The RVZ is calling for a substantial expansion of the role of family doctors, improved cooperation between hospitals and a stronger focus on prevention.

In an advisory report to be released today, the RVZ writes that in future family doctors should be allowed to perform minor surgery. It also wants major hospitals to provide specialised care and has suggested that regional hospitals should only offer a limited range of services. 
 

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