Dutch child ombudsmen warn of healthcare gap for 20,000 asylum children

Six local child ombudsmen in the Netherlands have issued an alarm regarding a potential eight-month gap in healthcare services for approximately 20,000 children in asylum seeker reception centers. The gap is expected to occur between October 1, 2026, and June 1, 2027.

The issue arises because the current contract between the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and the Municipal Health Service (GGD) for youth healthcare expires in October 2026, while the new provider is not scheduled to begin until June 2027. This transition period leaves uncertainty regarding the continuity of essential services, including vaccinations and the monitoring of physical, mental, and developmental health.

The ombudsmen expressed concern in a letter to three ministers, noting that the shift from public health services to a commercial provider, GezondheidsZorg Asielzoekers (GZA) under the Arts en Zorg Groep, raises serious questions. They emphasized that under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children should have equal access to quality healthcare regardless of their background or status. There are also ongoing political questions regarding whether the contract was awarded to a commercial entity primarily due to a significant price difference compared to public services.