GP shortage affects students: ‘My GP is an hour and a half away’

Students moving to Tilburg for their studies are struggling to find a general practitioner (GP). Due to a shortage of GPs and long waiting lists, many are left without access to local healthcare. When ill, they must rely on their GP back in their hometown. For international students, the situation is even more challenging.

Limited availability

Under the Dutch Healthcare Providers Admission Act (Wtza), GPs are expected to be able to reach their patients quickly in case of emergencies. While this is a guideline rather than a strict obligation, delays due to heavy traffic, for example, are common.

For many students, the 15-minute rule is simply unrealistic. Those unable to secure a GP in Tilburg must continue seeing their GP in their previous place of residence. Communication and Information Sciences (CIW) student Tessa Vermulst explains: ‘My GP is an hour and a half away from here.’

Tilburg University issues warnings

Some students manage to find a local GP after extensive searching or through sheer luck. CIW student Mariloes Klauwer shares her experience: ‘I saw that most waiting lists were nearly full, but I was fortunate enough to get a spot.’

The issue isn’t new. In 2021, student party SAM proposed the idea of having a GP on campus, but it failed to materialize. ‘Although the Executive Board was enthusiastic at the time, no concrete steps were taken to establish a campus GP,’ says Max Remmerswaal of SAM.

Solutions for international students

International students face even greater hurdles. They cannot rely on a GP back home and must find one upon arriving in the Netherlands. But what happens if they need urgent care?

While a campus GP is not available, alternatives do exist. Since April 2024, Primary Care For Internationals (PC4i) has been providing basic GP services for international students, as well as for labor migrants and people without fixed addresses.

PC4i aims to ease the burden on regular GP practices by specializing in care for internationals. The organization offers phone support in ten languages. For those without Dutch health insurance, payment is required upfront via card.

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