The PvdA is naïve to think that a tsunami of meetings will fix the healthcare system this century, says Barend van Lieshout.
This is the fourth in a series of features by Barend van Lieshout on the healthcare plans of the main political parties.

Barend van Lieshout: PvdA wants to elevate the unhealthy masses
According to the PvdA healthcare reform is long overdue. The party thinks the solution lies with a bigger say from citizens, frequent meetings and the improvement of the unhealthy worker’s lot.
In its manifesto ‘Nederland sterker en socialer’ (For a stronger, fairer Netherlands), the PvdA lashes out at the health insurers. They are presented as the proof market forces don’t work and have therefore forfeited their leading role. As a punishment they are to be given the bit part of regional administrator. The party proposes the following alternative: ‘Care organisations should work with citizens and care workers in order to come to an optimal care package. By cooperating and achieving a better balance between healthcare supply and demand, the availability of national healthcare services, like specialist clinics, top hospitals and learning hospitals would be optimised. The governmen will oversee the process.’
Naïve
Is the PvdA being naïve, ignorant, or simply in electoral mode? The healthcare sector is regulated to the hilt, battling for means and home to any number of ideals and interests. Is the PvdA seriously thinking that a crucial sector like this can optimised by means of a social debate? It won’t happen in this century.
Apart from this eruption of polder politics, the PvdA also wants a healthcare ombudsman and a representative of clients, patients and citizens on the board of every healthcare organisation, which would also have a statutory nurses advisory board. What on earth is all that in aid of? How is any decision ever going to be made with such a multitude of bodies having to reach consensus?
The unhealthy masses
Poorly trained people on a low wage are doing worse in the health stakes. The PvdA wants to improve their lot and there is clearly a lot of improving to be done. The question remains however how the party means to go about it. The manifesto speaks of prevention and advocating a healthier lifestyle. It doesn’t get much more concrete at this stage. This is the PvdA as we know and love it: it’s not only about equal chances for everyone, it’s also about elevating the underprivileged masses in the old paternalistic way. But if the present success rate of preventative measures tells us anything it’s that people don’t like to be told to give up smoking, eat healthier diet and do more exercise, and that includes the poorly educated and unhealthy masses.
The PvdA could perhaps test their polder cooperation model in a friendly merger with the SP and PVV. If they can pull that off they have my blessing to try their hand at reforming the healthcare system. The voters will oversee the process.
Barend van Lieshout is a healthcare advisor at Rebel