[Netherlands] Salary cap for surgeons under consideration

In the Netherlands, Health Minister Fleur Agema has announced that a salary cap of €246,000 for surgeons and other medical specialists is under consideration, Dutch News reports.

Ms Agema said the government had agreed with the healthcare sector to come up with a plan to save €150 million on the wage bill but further details have yet to be disclosed.

The healthcare department must reportedly find at least €252 million in cost savings as part of a general package of budget cuts announced by Finance Minister Eelco Heinen in September 2024.

In addition, the ministry needs to find the funds to make up a shortfall after MPs voted down a plan to raise VAT on cultural activity, newspapers and sport.

Medical specialists were exempted from a law that was introduced 12 years ago which said top public and semi-public sector workers were not permitted to earn more than the prime minister. This was dubbed the “Balkenende norm” after Jan Peter Balkenende, prime minister at the time.

The average annual salary for Dutch medical specialists is €177,000, however, a handful reportedly make more than €300,000.

VVD and other parties in parliament have opposed extending the Balkenende cap to medical specialists, arguing that it could prompt an exodus of top surgeons.

Ms Agema acknowledged that the proposal would not be welcomed by medics but added that she was open to other suggestions.

“At the end of the day I need to balance the books,” she said.

Source: Dutch News

(Quote via original reporting)

In the Netherlands, Health Minister Fleur Agema has announced that a salary cap of €246,000 for surgeons and other medical specialists is under consideration, Dutch News reports.

Ms Agema said the government had agreed with the healthcare sector to come up with a plan to save €150 million on the wage bill but further details have yet to be disclosed.

The healthcare department must reportedly find at least €252 million in cost savings as part of a general package of budget cuts announced by Finance Minister Eelco Heinen in September 2024.

In addition, the ministry needs to find the funds to make up a shortfall after MPs voted down a plan to raise VAT on cultural activity, newspapers and sport.

Medical specialists were exempted from a law that was introduced 12 years ago which said top public and semi-public sector workers were not permitted to earn more than the prime minister. This was dubbed the “Balkenende norm” after Jan Peter Balkenende, prime minister at the time.

The average annual salary for Dutch medical specialists is €177,000, however, a handful reportedly make more than €300,000.

VVD and other parties in parliament have opposed extending the Balkenende cap to medical specialists, arguing that it could prompt an exodus of top surgeons.

Ms Agema acknowledged that the proposal would not be welcomed by medics but added that she was open to other suggestions.

“At the end of the day I need to balance the books,” she said.

Source: Dutch News

(Quote via original reporting)