Today, unions FNV and CNV and the employers' organization Royal Dutch Transport are sending a fire letter to Minister De Jonge of VWS. The social partners are deeply concerned about the future of healthcare transport. According to the organizations, the current standstill due to the corona crisis is putting the sector on the brink of collapse.
Earlier, the parties already called on the clients to pay health care providers for non-driven journeys during the corona crisis. However, clients often still hesitate to provide clarity to carriers or reject the call. The parties therefore appeal urgently to the minister to make it clear, as the person responsible for the system, that there is an obligation to continue paying health care providers during the corona crisis and to sanction them.
depending on healthcare transport
Rates and margins in healthcare transport have been low for years. This crisis is getting over that and can therefore be the stumbling block for many companies. This has consequences not only for companies and employees, but especially for people who depend on healthcare transport. The social partners are doing everything possible to prevent this.
little relief
The NOW scheme and additional measures (such as suspension of payroll tax payment) do not provide enough relief, because a large part of the fixed costs continue. The healthcare transport sector - an essential part of the healthcare chain in the Netherlands to guarantee the mobility of vulnerable groups - therefore sees payment as the only option to continue. The sector is therefore also in line with the government's line.
Research
Research agency Panteia investigated what is necessary to guarantee healthcare transport even after the corona crisis. From this research it appears that when all clients continue to pay 80% of the normal budgets, even if no journeys are made, the majority of the sector is affected by the crisis. The cabinet states that when the government is the principal, the government must pass on the available budgets to contractors in order to guarantee their continuity.
continue to pay
The social partners therefore call on the minister to act on his words. They ask the minister to ensure that at least 80% of the fixed costs are paid if a municipality, healthcare institution or health insurer is the client. If they do not continue to pay, the social partners want the minister to enforce.
additional costs
In addition, the social partners ask the minister, where necessary, to oblige clients of the remaining transport (for example for kidney dialysis) to reimburse the additional costs due to inefficient routes and the use of strict corona protocols. The minister's social partners also expect that clients who run into problems due to the payment themselves will be offered a helping hand through financing by the government.
Also read: Healthcare providers not welcome at UWV, seated healthcare transport is?
