This will be the last update for 2024 as I will be off for a couple of weeks celebrating Christmas and New Year with family and friends. Best wishes to you and your family. The whole country seems to be slowing down in preparation for the holidays to come, but there is still news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector:

• Costs for many healthcare providers will increase in January. What are the reasons?
• Major program to reform the Dutch healthcare sector is not going well. What are the problems?
• Overview of promising Dutch healthcare start-up: Kepler Vision Technologies, a developer of fall detection products for the elderly care sector

In a few days, the Dutch will be celebrating Sinterklaas. As you can guess from the name there is a link to Santa Claus (explained in this Wikipedia article). The Dutch celebration is before Christmas, but also involves exchange of gifts. In the last few years Sinterklaas has become politically sensitive due to his helpers who were traditionally portrayed in blackface. Even though the country is entering a festive mode, there is still news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• Large real estate investment in senior living concept. What are the details?
• New competitor to ZorgDomein. What are the chances that they will be successful?
• Disabled care providers forced to postpone investments. What are the reasons?

Winter is coming! It is cold and grey outside, and the central heating is working hard. Welcome back to another update on the Dutch healthcare market. This update covers the following news items:

• Physiotherapists want minimum tariffs. How are tariffs currently set?
• Comparison of the Dutch elderly care market to other countries. What can the Netherlands do differently?
• In a snapshot we give an overview of CumuluZ, an organization focusing on improved data connectivity between Dutch healthcare providers

Welcome back to another update on the Dutch healthcare market. This update covers the following news items:

• Actief Zorg has been sold. Who is the purchaser?
• HBI list of largest European healthcare companies. What is the Dutch presence?
• Zorgdomein is celebrating its 25^th What is the role of the company in the Dutch healthcare sector?
• In a snapshot we give an overview of HartKliniek, a chain of clinics specializing in coronary issues

This update covers the following news items:

• Continuing financial problems in the youth care. What are the consequences for the commercial providers of youth care?
• Parliament vs healthcare insurance companies. What will happen to smaller regional hospitals?
• In a snapshot we give an overview of Performation, a company providing IT solutions to hospitals

Here in the Netherlands, autumn has arrived in full force. It is raining cats & dogs, temperatures are falling and it is almost time to start up the central heating again. But, as always, there is news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• Co-Med sold. Who is the buyer?
• Pension company for healthcare staff to invest in innovative healthcare. What are the plans?
• Hospitals face capacity problems due to revenue ceilings at elderly care operators. What is happening?
• Update on Ksyos – the digital hospital

Welcome back to another update on the Dutch healthcare sector. Everybody is now back from their holidays and reports are being published, political discussions are being held, and decisions are being made. In other words, there is enough news to report. This update covers the following news items:

• Hot off the press – What are the new government’s plans for the healthcare sector?
• Insufficient investment in the elderly care sector. What can be done?
• Discussions related to private equity investments in healthcare continue. What is the risk for investors?
• Regional hospital reports massive loss for 2023. Are the problems structural?

I am back from three weeks in Cambodia and Thailand, and have had a wonderful time. We started out by visiting Angkor Wat, and then took a boat to Battangbam (highly recommended). In Thailand we split our time between Koh Chang, Bangkok, and Hua Hin. I am already missing the scenery, the fantastic food, nice people, and wonderful massages. Here in the Netherlands there is a fair amount of news to report from the healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• Private equity owned companies have €1.5 billion in healthcare-related revenues. Where does this come from?
• The new Minister of Health will not forbid PE-investments in healthcare companies. What does this mean for further investments?
• The Netherlands is facing a shortage of dentists. Where will new dentists come from?
• Receiver expects to sell Co-Med “within weeks”. Who are the likely buyers?

For anybody that missed my update two weeks ago – excuses. It is summer, there has not been a lot of news and I have been busy with other things. This will also be the last update before my own summer vacation. Next week we are off for three weeks in Cambodia and Thailand. I have not been to Asia since 2017 and am very much looking forward to it. Even if it is quiet, there is still news to report. This update covers the following news items:

• Specific financing of complex homecare for the elderly announced. What will this mean for the elderly care sector?
• Improved financial results for the mental healthcare sector in 2023. Is profitability sufficiently high?
• Consolidation in the orthopedics sector. Will it continue?
• Primary care sector. What is happening after Co-Med?

Finally, summer has arrived here in the Netherlands. We have had a number of (very) hot days and the beach, lakes, parks and outdoor cafes have been packed with people catching the rays and enjoying the nice weather. The news relating to the Dutch healthcare sector the last few weeks has mainly been about Co-Med, but there is also other news. This update covers the following news items:

• Further consolidation in the occupational healthcare sector. Who will be next?
• Growth in healthcare-related acquisition involving private equity. Will the trend continue?
• Co-Med has announced that it is entering voluntary bankruptcy. What are the consequences for primary care in the Netherlands?

Last week I was in London for the HBI 2024 conference and had the pleasure of meeting many of you. It was three days of interesting presentations and discussions, and good opportunities to catch up with old friends and meet new friends. I am looking forward to Paris in 2025. Back in the Netherlands there is news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• Co-Med has survived a bankruptcy hearing but is facing new challenges. Will it survive?
• Further consolidation in the laboratory sector. Who will be next?
• Compulsory disability insurance for independent workers comes closer. Will other reforms for the occupational healthcare sector be implemented?
• Potential sale of medical aesthetics company. Another sector that will be consolidated?

Another update on the Dutch healthcare sector after another wonderful weekend. This time the trip went to Trieste and Istria. Beautiful countryside, good food and wonderful wines with good friends. Back in the Netherlands there is news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• Co-Med is approaching bankruptcy. What are the consequences for Dutch primary healthcare?
• More power to the Dutch competition authority and limitations on new contracts from insurance companies. Is the Netherlands becoming less favorable for companies investing in healthcare?
• Ongoing move toward multi-year contracts with the insurance companies. Is this good news?

In my previous update I wrote about the first days of summers here in the Netherlands. Last weekend I also had the unique pleasure of enjoying four days of beautiful weather in England. I hope that this was not the full extent of summer in that exceptionally beautiful country. Here in the Netherlands there is news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• After six months we have a new government. What are the likely consequences for the healthcare sector?
• The number of people taking voluntary healthcare insurance is declining. What does this mean for different sub-sectors of the healthcare market?
• More acquisitions in the healthcare sector. What are possible reasons for the continuing popularity of Dutch healthcare companies?
• In a new snapshot we give an overview of Sandstep Healthcare, a developer of specialized clinics

As I am writing this we have the first day of what feels like summer. Lots of sun and temperatures north of 25C. Finally. There is also news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• Active M&A in the Dutch healthcare sector. Who will be next?
• Alternative to commercial primary care chains get financing from healthcare insurance company. Will this help to stabilize the sector?
• Absenteeism in Dutch healthcare sector is declining. Will this improve margins for the healthcare providers?

Rain, rain, rain, and a bit of cold is essentially the story of spring so far. While spring is forcing us to wait, there is still news to report from the Dutch healthcare sector. This update covers the following news items:

• More problems for commercial primary care chains. Is Co-Med heading towards bankruptcy?
• IT providers to the healthcare sector enjoying “excessive” profits. Can the government do anything to limit profits?
• EY report on the role of private equity in the Dutch healthcare sector. Good news or bad news?