Shortage of neurologists strains Dutch hospitals as demand for care surges
Dutch hospitals are facing a growing shortage of neurologists, the Dutch Society of Neurology (NVN) warned. The gap is reportedly driven by an aging population and new treatments for neurological disorders
Neurology is the medical specialty dealing with diseases of the brain, nerves, spinal cord, and muscles. Recent medical advances have created more therapies for chronic conditions, significantly increasing the demand for care.
"That makes the work challenging, but all those treatment methods bring a greater demand for care with them," Erwin Hoogervorst, chairman of the NVN, told NOS.
The aging population is adding pressure. More people are developing conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and Parkinson's disease. "And the baby boomers are now retiring, which is causing a shortage," Hoogervorst added.
Officials are expanding training to address the shortage. There were 49 training positions this year. That number will rise to 60 next year. Neurologists complete six years of specialized training, so the new doctors will not reach hospitals until 2032.
Hoogervorst called for better attention to work-life balance during training. He also urged shifting some tasks to other medical professionals. Patients in stable condition, for example, could receive routine checkups from general practitioners instead of specialists.
"We cannot do everything anymore as in recent years," Hoogervorst told NOS. "With a task shift, other doctors can take over certain tasks. If someone has been stable for years, that person would no longer need to come to us annually for check-ups, but that could be done at the general practitioner."
