PAR faction is constituted by Minister of Health Mr. Silvania, after pressure from Parliament, in August, heeded and halted the decision to remove vitamins from the basic insurance. A decision that Minister Silvania was well aware of, as of May 2023, if not sooner and he did nothing.
But better late than never! To the surprise of the PAR faction, they took note of the SVB’s decision to remove some vitamins from the packaging of the meal. Concretely this would mean that the person in need of these vitamins would have to pay for them out of his own pocket.
Given that these are supplements that are required as part of treatment for people with, among others, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes and pregnant women, they can only result in an escalation of illness and also cost. In addition, this cut in vitamins is merely 2.5% of the 52 million that the SVB needs to cut in spending.
The PAR faction is aware of the need to reduce healthcare costs, but it must do so in a way that is sustainable. Several exercises have been carried out in this direction, and in the latest annual accounts of the SVB the actions necessary to continue these are described. It is in this context that the Taskforce Hervorming en Financiering Zorgsector was set up, which has not been heard from in Parliament for a long time. PAR faction urges the Minister to continue the path to reduce health spending in a responsible, efficient and sustainable way.