Dutch cities demand national action against healthcare fraud

The major Dutch cities of Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague are calling on the national government to implement urgent measures to combat healthcare fraud and the infiltration of organized crime into the care sector. The cities argue that criminal networks are exploiting vulnerable residents and misappropriating public funds, characterizing the issue as a national problem rather than a local one.

According to the municipalities, current local efforts are insufficient, describing the situation as ‘mopping with the tap open’ without national intervention. They highlight that new healthcare providers can currently establish themselves relatively easily through Chamber of Commerce registration without prior scrutiny.

The cities have expressed that Minister Mirjam Sterk’s commitment to address these issues in 2028 is too late. They are demanding immediate national screening processes and uniform admission requirements. Additionally, the 50Plus party in the House of Representatives has called for the appointment of a government commissioner for healthcare fraud to coordinate a national response.