Amsterdam physicians begin fining patients who miss appointments

Several dozen Amsterdam doctors have started fining patients who miss their appointments without canceling them. There is a lot of pressure on general practitioner care in the Netherlands, and the physicians feel that no-shows waste time that could be spent on other patients. They want the fines to discourage the behavior, Parool reports.

No-shows are an increasing problem, Paulien van Hessen of the Amsterdamse Huisartsenalliantie, the association for GPs in the Dutch capital, told the newspaper. “We increasingly hear that people don’t show up, and that leads to a lot of frustration among practice staff,” she said.

Some GP practices have to use waiting lists because their consultation hours are fully booked. “Then a no-show is very annoying. We do our utmost to help everyone as quickly and as best as possible. As a patient, you can help us by canceling in a timely manner when the need for care has evaporated.”

Parool surveyed GPs in Amsterdam and found several dozen who are fining no-shows. The fines range from 10 to 30 euros. Some GPs double the amount when a patient misses a longer consultation or more than one appointment.

David Koetsier, a GP in Amsterdam-Noord, is one of the GPs who fine no-shows. “It is a means for us to appeal to people about their own responsibility,” he told Parool. “If there is a valid reason, the invoice is canceled. We are extremely lenient.” The main goal of the fine is to act as a deterrent.

The Patient Federation, which represents the interests of patients, is against the fines. “We believe that these fines do not benefit the relationship between doctor and patient. A good mutual relationship can help prevent no-shows,” a spokesperson said. “Reasons why patients do not show up can vary widely. It can also arise, for example, from a fear of treatment or costs. You don’t want to punish people for this with a fine.”