Outgoing Minister Dijkstra (VWS) has taken new decisions that should lead to an improvement in care for post-COVID patients.
Opening of Expertise Centers
In April, the minister asked the university medical centres (UMCs) to take the lead in developing expertise and forming centres of expertise, and to further share this knowledge in their regional network. The UMCs are equipped to investigate new disease patterns and can quickly share acquired knowledge within their regional network. This knowledge can then be used in the regional network of general hospitals, rehabilitation care, general practitioners and paramedics.
In addition, the minister has asked the university medical centers to take the lead in organizing care, in which cooperation with the regional network is also important. It is important that care for post-COVID patients is organized as locally as possible because traveling takes a lot of energy and demands a lot from these patients.
Within a few weeks, the first three UMCs will start setting up an expertise centre for their region: Maastricht UMC+, Amsterdam UMC and Erasmus MC. Within a few months, the other UMCs will also start with their region. It is not yet known how the centres will be set up and when patients will actually be able to go there. As soon as more information becomes available, we will inform you.
