Family doctors are attending a demonstration in Amsterdam today against government cuts. Turn out for the protest rally is high with 5000 doctors and 3000 assistants. Organisers say it is the largest ever doctors' demonstration in the Netherlands.

Health Minister Edith Schippers says she understands their concerns, but claims she is just taking back money that has been "overspent". A sum of 132 million euros is being scrapped from doctors’ budgets, the same is being done with physiotherapists, psychiatrists and other specialists. “It would not be fair if I let family doctors off as the only group.”

The minister says she has to do this to prevent the bill being footed by other services. “The burden has to be distributed fairly. I don’t want to the public to foot the bill.”

The minister hopes family doctors will become more efficient as a result of the measure. The Labour Party is concerned that patients will be affected by the cuts. Doctors fear the measure will cost more in the long run as visiting the family doctor is cheaper than going to hospital.

(nc/hs)

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