How about a DUTCH DOCTOR?

[@ameanoacid6176]

As a scientist that has a basic knowledge of health care, this triggers me. Its not like taking antibiotics is similar to a piece of candy. These are vital medical resources that should be used with caution and be directed at killing what it is supposed to kill e.g. harmful bacteria. Taking antibiotics when you don't need them has a chance to create antibiotic resistance and eventually make the drug obsolete. Seeing how everyone is shocked that in The Netherlands we don't prescribe all sorts of medicine for whatever small ailments one is having i'm kind of saddened by the way people approach being sick. Here we say "uitzieken" to find out if you are having something minor that the body can handle itself or something major that needs intervention from a doctor through whatever treatment is necessary. I dont want to offend anyone saying this and if you feel real bad you should go to a "huisarts", but, don't expect every little wish wash to be answered with heavy medication. A doctor has spend a good chunk of his life preparing for his profession, saying you know better is in most cases (not all) ignorant or irresponsible.

[@pixelbitty287]

This reaction needs more upvotes.

[@berndelignie8002]

Lots of doctors have changed their opinions and working matters. Antibioticum resistence were a new novelty. So yes they needed to adopt.

[@ammalyrical5646]

@@berndelignie8002 Not really. Antibiotic resistance has been known to appear basically since they were implemented around WW2 (maybe ~5 years later). The resistance becoming an issue was also expected for a while. It just progressed with increasing speed when the regular people started noticing. This would be similar to saying it's not been known for a long time asbestos causes lung cancer. Our government knew in the 80s or so, they just waited with implementing decent guidelines and rules for maybe 20ish years.

[@berndelignie8002]

@@ammalyrical5646 well, natural resistance. They started to chemicly modify the drugs thi

[@tmngutra7924]

Why take medicine when you dont need them right?? I was thinking the exact same thing. Why go to the doctor when your healthy?? Here in the Netherlands you can ask your huisarts to do bloodwork just to check up on things. I do that every year..

[@Sjaan_Banaan]

5:07 Says it all: Have you ever gotten antibiotics from a Dutch doctor? "Yup. Wasn't easy. _I had to be actually sick."_

[@theobolt250]

There are good reasons to be restraining and/or controlling where antibiotics are concerned. Already we (in general, worldwide) have problems with bacteria that get resistant. For instance some tuberculosis stems. Antibiotics only when there are no alternatives. So, yeah, you got to be really sick. But hey, we Dutch are probably made from sterner stuff?

[@Kie75]

That right there is the crux of it. Dutch Doctors only hand out antibiotics when it's pertinent. They're not a cornucopia or cure-all.

[@anabarbosa5453]

That says it all 👍

[@Radv13]

Belgium is very different then because I’m American and I’ve never been prescribed so many medication in my life!!! Lol 😂 personally I’d pick my doctor from back home any day! I like it better, but I get how y’all like it better here too! To each their own! 😅

[@cebruthius]

Riding the coaster in San Diego I saw a PSA telling people that "using antibiotics for a cold doesn't work" and I was shocked people had to be told thisi.

[@mart9214]

very recognizable. I'm dutch and I have some indian friends. When I just have flue symptoms for 3 days they tell me to go to a doctor. I reply with: why would I, what do you think the doctor will do? They: a doctor can help you blablabla. Me: Or I just wait a few days take some paracetamol and don't ruine a doctor his time. I mean come on, if you can heal by yourself why would you go to a doctor?

[@Roozyj]

A classmate from Singapore heard me cough and asked: "Are you catching something?" I was like: ehm... dunno? Maybe a cold? Does it matter? I have a cold at least three times a year and it's never killed me before xD

[@amfohr]

There is no cure for a cold or a flu, you just have to get better

[@bas4752]

@@Roozyj you are a survivor

[@janitamantel5333]

exactly, it is more healthy to do it yourself, make you stronger

[@darinakalinova2180]

Because more infections you are fighting without any help of medication ( not saying antibiotics) more risks for older age you have to be impacted by the severe disease. Each infection for a body is a problem. If you just caught for 2 weeks letting it be and with medication you can heal it in 1 week, why would you not do that ? Except fact you are spreading it for 1 week longer.

[@supadicko]

The american system isn't focussed on prevention, it's focussed on making money

[@sergiosantamaria4]

American doctors are very good, they get very strong training.

[@tomaat2575]

@@sergiosantamaria4 The dutch healthcare system is one of the best in the world and have at least the american skill level so idk what youre talking about. But we (the dutch) think at a different level, we dont think we should get medicine for a stuffy nose or a little headache.

[@sergiosantamaria4]

@@tomaat2575 The Dutch healthcare system is aweful, so bad that it is a joke even among Dutch people. Doctors in NL do not have the American skill level, not even close!!! basically because the universities are not even comparable. But that is not the point, what makes the DUtch system so mediocre is not the level of doctors but the insurance-focused system, that focuses on lowering costs at the expense of lowering the quality. At least NL is in the EU and people with health issues they can go to other countries (mostly Italy, Spain) and get treated during their holidays.

[@supadicko]

@@sergiosantamaria4 US life expectancy: 78,54 years Netherlands life expectancy: 81,56 years

[@michielvdvlies3315]

like with almost anything...

[@ArachnosMusic]

'You are the doctor, why are you asking the computer?' must be one of the dumbest things one can say. Just because someone is a general practitioner, it doesn't mean that they have the entire human body and all possible medication memorized. That's just ridiculous! Someone who has studied law has tons of law books they use, someone who has studied math looks up certain theorems, etc. Having studied something means you understand it, and it means you have enough general knowledge to be able to look certain things up very directly and see which results are clearly not true and which might be. Of course there are many things you do in fact know by heart, but those exist to support you in being able to locate whatever you don't know by heart.

[@BramLastname]

My general practitioner knows I have a history of medication, weight, height and blood pressure graphs in my profile, So they always look through that to see if my values are strange compared to my usual values, Instead of compared to the average citizen. Since I'm always in poor health compared to an average citizen. Not because I'm sick, But because I'm too far from the average to have a normal baseline.

[@leonievw2466]

This annoyed me as well. They are not always on Google, they look in a system with specific guide lines to see what they should do, instead of making the best guess possible

[@Guust_Flater]

Is like asking an engineer why he is using a calculator, you know math, right ? The computer is a tool.

[@BramLastname]

@@Guust_Flater oh hey, I like your cartoons

[@julieappel8432]

ArachnosMusic Dutch doctors are never searching stuff on google. They write everything in a health archieve and everyone here has one of those.

[@freerkottema]

My grandpa used to say; when you take a medicine for a cold or the flu, it will be better in 7 days But when you take nothing it will be better in a week He was so right!

[@DreadX10]

We know it the other way around. When you don't take anything for a cold or flu, it takes a whole week to get better but a doctor can cure you in only 7 days.

[@tomribbens4860]

@Martin OnTheWeb r/whoosh

[@PerfectAlibi1]

@@tomribbens4860 Go back to reddit, dum dum!

[@MrLedeberg]

@@DreadX10 there is nothing else you can do with flu and cold than sleeping and resting, maybe some paracetamol for seasing your musclepain and to sleep better

[@Snibble]

And some people think old people need to be treated as children.

[@Justboringonthepc]

“Ik betaal dus ik wil meteen medicatie of naar een arts” effe dimmen jij gap. Als wij allemaal deze instelling hebben gaat de gezondheidszorg eraan. 2 weken uitzieken is niets mis mee en daar hoef je echt geen hart long specialist voor te zien.

[@Pfirtzer]

Tot het een keer echt ernstig is en het dan veelvoud kost.Zelf meegemaakt van heel nabij, omdat huisarts zelf wilde prutsen en niet verwees. Liep heel helaas niet goed af.

[@Justboringonthepc]

Pfirtzer zeker, ik ben ook van mening dat niet iedere huisarts een goeie huisarts is. Maar als ik er op sta voor een doorverwijzing met goeie argumenten, krijg ik die meteen. Maar verschilt natuurlijk per huisarts.

[@fluffylittleclouds1]

Als ik een afspraak maak dan heb ik al even afgewacht of het over wil. Of niet maar dan is het ernstiger. (Ik neem aan dat dit voor de meeste mensen geldt.) Ik ga niet voor m'n lol naar de dokter. Ik ga omdat ik geholpen wil worden. Als de dokter niet weet wat er schilt, dan moet er verder onderzoek volgen en niet wegsturen.

[@blanconaam]

Ja dus je zou gewoon geholpen moeten worden bij symptomen die naar iets ergs kunnen verwijzen waar ze onderzoek moeten doen, maar als er iets is wat echt heel onwaarschijnlijk is met de symptomen die je hebt is het nogsteeds best om te wachten anders zit je dadelijk in het ziekenhuis voor niks ik heb daar wel een goed verhaal over toen ons medisch systeem nog niet zo goed was. Daar komt ie dan: Mijn opa die werkte vaak heel hard en zijn collega’s zeiden altijd “Doe rustig aan joh, blijf eens een tijdje thuis of zeg gewoon dat je ziek bent.” Volgende dag belt hij natuurlijk naar zijn werk om te zeggen dat hij ziek is. De baas vraagt oh wat heb je waarop mijn opa antwoord “Ja ik heb last van me rug, doet heel veel pijn” dus zijn baas stelt voor om naar de dokter te gaan een een dokters bewijs meegeven anders moet hij weer terug werken. Dus hij ging naar de dokter. De dokter begon met vragen stellen en ging door hele tests met hem waar hij over om loog. Hij is doorgestuurd naar het ziekenhuis en moest toen voor ongeveer 2 weken lang op een plankje liggen. Toen hij weer terug kwam van dat had hij n die hij kon gebruiken dus dat deed hij waarna hij weer een paar dagen op zijn werk was en het vakantie werd waarna hij gewoon uiteindelijk een half jaar vakantie had.

[@deezet9518]

Inderdaad worden we zelden doorverwezen, omdat het ook meestal niet nodig is. Wat het niet duidelijker maakt waarom de ziektekostenverzekering zo godsgruwelijk duur is.

[@bynahelemaal]

This made me realize that most countries are like the U.S.... sneeze once and people want and expect like morphine to get rid of it, while dutch people are used to actually having to be sick before they get medicine!

[@janitamantel5333]

that is the reason a lot of people are addicted to painkillers and sleeping tablets in US,

[@TheKitsukitsu]

My aunt who is living in netherlands ever felt a really bad headache that she even said "is it how dying feel like!?" just because there is no medication she did. 😌

[@myrtheengeman4787]

Yeah that was strange, a couple years ago in Italy you get antibiotics for a headache. I didn't knew paracetemol were a dutch thing.

[@dennisvisser3910]

視V you don’t die of a headache. Maybe swollen blood in the brains as it is a real killer of old age.

[@BramLastname]

@@TheKitsukitsu headaches are normal, However everyone knows twice in a row without explanation is enough to see a gp.

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

“They don’t wanna do tests, unless you have symptoms”. He says that like it’s a bad thing 😂.

[@KarMaComet]

Doctor: are you? Patient: I'm fine D: hmm, suspicious...let's run some test 🙃

[@elguido]

Yeah, because catching diseases before they have broken havoc is stupid. Why would you check for cancer if you can wait until you have symptoms and 6 months to live? The earlier you can catch a serious disease the better and less intrusive your treatment can be. I almost never go to the doctor and I haven't taken antibiotics in decades, so don't flag me as a hypochondriac. But the way Dutch people get ultra defensive with these debatable practices is strange. For me it is ridiculous that here everyone fucks without condoms but nobody does regular std checks. Truly outside comprehension

[@uzzisalomon6230]

But all are still alive after sickness. So it cant be wrong. Special when you came from the us system.

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

@@elguido there is a big difference between regular checkups and “gimme medicine because it was on TV”. And where the hell did you get that everybody fucks without protections? According to the Dutch CDC (RIVM) STD’s have been steady or declining (www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/2019-0007.pdf). While according to your CDC it’s been on the rise (www.upi.com/Health_News/2019/10/08/STD-rates-in-US-reached-all-time-high-in-2018-CDC-says/6761570552379/) and has a higher percentage than in the Netherlands. The reason we get defensive because just taking meds because you can seems so stupid and costly. And if you’re taking anti bacterial medicines for no reason the risks of bacteria getting resistent increases. It’s simple science.

[@elguido]

@Eihoofd2 that is of course a fair point. I am aware that the government reaches out to people considered at risk asking them to perform certain check ups. And of course it makes no sense to have everyone run MRI scans and every kind of tests without any symptoms. What I have often found when discussing this topic with Dutch people is that they many times see this as a black or white thing. It is either not doing any tests until you have developed symptoms or have an elevated risk, or test everyone for everything for free. And I think there are some middle grounds that would make more sense. You only get symptoms of diabetes when the body function has been greatly altered, but you can spot earlier stages that are asymptomatic by simple blood tests. The government doesn't know the eating and exercise habits of people, so it is difficult for them to predict who would be at risk. I agree that most Dutch people are healthy. Which is also the case in Argentina, Morocco, or Vietnam. But I think that periodic checks of a couple of indicators once every year through simple blood tests would help prevent pathologies to develop. I don't think that instigating this habit in the population would drastically increase the load on the healthcare sector, and it might even reduce it in some areas where early action can help to prevent serious damage. Then there is the topic of sexually transferred diseases. It surprises me how many people have sex without condoms but never check for STD.

[@Hadewijch_]

What is wrong with these people? All of them demanding unnecessary, unhelpful and even harmful medication and treatments. Unbelievable! And the remark about euthanasia is so very ignorant en disrespectful.

[@Pfirtzer]

Because in countries of origin the doctors, hand out medication like sweets, get paid by government and people expect to get medication, if a doctor doesn't prescribe medication then it's a bad doctor, that's their perception of the medical staff.

[@edthejester]

They were raised to be dependant on pills and medical procedures. What they don't seem to get is that the human body is the best method of dealing with most ailments. The diagnosis by phone and the huisarts try to determine if your own body can defeat whatever is troubling you. Like the guy said, when yiu DON'T get the paracetamol is when you need to worry. If you get stronger medicine for every cough, you are undermining your longterm health because you are making your body forget how to defend itself. Preaching to the choir, I know, but I had to vent haha

[@donaldickbutt7133]

The guy was joking with the euthanasia. It was a good joke. Learn to laugh a bit.

[@Rossi5007]

There is nothing wrong with those people, they are just not long enough yet in Netherlands. It takes time to understand and get used to a lot of things. Ik was ook zo n iemand 19 jaar geleden, veel van de uitspraken zijn echt herkenbaar voor mij! ;) Nederland is heel anders . Ik moet toch veel lachen de laatste paar dagen, sinds ik deze op youtube heb gevonden! :D

[@Pfirtzer]

@@donaldickbutt7133 True, if you look at your monthly wage and see what you pay on taxes you would love to have euthanasia, it's cheaper.

[@CeetjeBeetje]

It's really weird to me that you would go to the huisarts just for having a cold or feeling a bit under the weather. Don't you think doctors have more important things to worry about. You can buy lots of medicine in the supermarket. Don't need a prescribtion for every little cough you have.

[@BramLastname]

I never buy cough medicine, I'd just make do with my broken voice, If I'm sick people are allowed to know that, I'm not gonna be pretending I'm fine.

[@stanpines9011]

@@BramLastname you buy cough medicine because having to cough is annoying, you don't buy it because you think others are annoyed by your coughing

[@BramLastname]

@@stanpines9011 I can see why you'd think I said that, But that's the opposite of what I meant. Cough medicine should only be used if it hurts to cough imo, In other situations just accept that it's part of being sick.

[@MisFellatio]

@@stanpines9011 tough luck. Effective medications for cough caused by common cold etc. Dont exist

[@BramLastname]

@@unusedname2283 For broken arm, I'd call the hospital, not the huisarts. And if you are not happy with the medication you are getting You can ask a different doctor for a second opinion just like any other country. These examples are not signs of a broken system, They are indicators that you do not know how to use it.

[@waasar]

The responses all seem to come down to reluctance of Dutch doctors to giving out antibiotics or drugs in general for minor ailments. To me that approach seems very reasonable but I guess many countries do it differently.

[@norwegian52]

I feel like in my opinion a lot of people especially Americans they come from a system where they demand a certain type of medication or they will leave their doctor a bad review on their page. I think this is wrong and absolutely outrageous people just don’t have common sense these days

[@tycondero1647]

Well, people there grow up with the idea to be able to buy antibiotics at the pharmacy (over the counter) without prescription. IMO this is ill informed of them, but I guess they are used to it.

[@meganversteeg61]

@@tycondero1647 dfq

[@sjakierulez]

@@norwegian52 And then they wonder why USA has so many problems with (legal) drug addictions

[@emmelienschillern2394]

Not giving out antibiotics for minor ailments is not only reasonable, but necessary to ensure that these medications keep working in the future! With the rate doctors in other countries are prescribing antibiotics we might have a big problem with antibiotic resistance in the (near) future where people die of relatively minor infections because they can’t get treated anymore.

[@peteralleyman1388]

And what is a doctor supposed to do when you have influenza? Prescribe a placebo? 95 % of all illnesses get cured by your own body without any help needed. Maybe a paracetamol to relieve the pain. Prescribing antibiotics for a running nose has already led to a huge problem of bacteria getting resistant. Especially in those countries where they do not "just prescribe paracetamol". And suggesting we have euthanasia for efficiency reasons is just appalling. And American people should not complain about the dutch system. Certainly not when they don't belong to the financial upper class.

[@g.miklukho2129]

Thank you for this commmet! You are completely right. There is no real medicine against the cold

[@Elsjuh87]

So true! You wrote exactly what I was thinking! about letting your body fight of things like a cold or the flu. And taking antibiotics when not necessary, can do more harm than good. Also the comment about euthanasia is very disrespectful! People who actually choose to be euthanised don't make this decision lightly. They choose this because the rest of their (short) life will be full of suffering.

[@Radv13]

Lol why are you so butt hurt 😂 what did America ever do to you? 😂

[@Mazil_5]

Rebecca Davila he is right though

[@WalterVos]

@@Radv13 Diminish the effectiveness of antibiotics by excessively prescribing them, I guess 😉

[@blackduck1336]

Could it be the doctor in your country gives you drugs because he can bill you for it and get rich? You are right, Bart, ignorant people are really funny. Medicine for colds and influenza, these people are hilarious! The American was spot-on: "Ït was not easy(to get antibiotics), I had to be actually sick." Really?! Then he says it does not cost a lot of money...... Appearantly it is hard to see the connection. Only the sandwich story makes sense, eating while a patient is in is really unprofessional and inappropriate.

[@Hadewijch_]

The other option was probably making the patient wait another 20 minutes since the doctor missed his/her lunch break again.

[@dennisvisser3910]

Linda B. That’s a fact. Because there are stil pepole comming without appointment demanding some one to look and one of the is like sure but lemme eat my santwitch because i’m actually i actually having a brake. 100% sure it’s among these lines. Or afther a an accident.

[@weeardguy]

@@dennisvisser3910 But I can't imagine someone in the Netherlands actually being seen without an appointment... Yes, eating during a consult is a bit inappropiate (especially during a gyno-consult) but if there was an emergency in between, doctors will have to make a choice. To be honest, I expect it to be a 'co-assistent' (what I think is called a med-student in the USA) or a AIO(S) (Arts In Opleiding (tot Specialist) (Doctor in training (to Specialist). But the choice remains: Either have everyone wait even longer, or have personnel able to do so eat while the consult is ongoing. I admire everyone working in a hospital because of the time-pressure, distances they walk, sometimes annoying or even violent patients and all the decisions they have to make.

[@robert_trumpeteer]

The sandwich makes sense for a GP, that one wasn't doing a surgery or anything like that and probably was overworked and had almost no time for a break tbh.

[@putin_AI]

One time I had a stroke which went away again and then the Dutch doctor told me that it's fine and sent me back home. Later I had another stroke and got permanent damage. What a disgusting healthcare system.

[@GaertnerJan]

In this video: people who are used to getting antibiotics for influenza, opioids for minor pains and who would rather trust doctors who throw antibiotics at any problem right away than make sure they understand what is going on by consulting a database. This is why most other countries have far lower life expectancies I suppose. I do enjoy the cultural dimension, one girl said it well ‘you really have to tell them what you want/expect’, that is very true and imho should often be unnecessary.

[@joannacarn081278]

It is quite different than the US health system. Contrary to one of the guy saying US is more focusing on the " prevention", I say Dutch is more focusing on the prevention. I mean getting blood test and physical exam is not " prevention" it is diagnosing and see what if we can something is wrong with you. Prevention medicine is incorporated in your life style including balance diet, regular exercise and work/life balance. I guess this is how messed up American health care system is.

[@saeufer82]

The American approach is better described as the practice of "defensive medicine". Yeah, you're 25 and your knee hurts after you rode a single-speed bike up a mountain, but we better do an MRI to make sure you didn't damage your knee. Anywhere else in the world, the GP would tell you to have some ibuprofen and take it easy... and a Dutch person would've just bought the ibuprofen without the GP visit.

[@Pfirtzer]

American healt care system is non existent unless you have a lot of money, then it's infinite.

[@elipulci5761]

Prevention is also regular screening for some diseases, for example tumors. I feel lucky we have this in Italy

[@janetaldrich7747]

Annual exams and blood work can raise the red flags that will alert a doctor to issues that are not bad enough to cause severe symptoms. Catching an illness early on can give the patient a better chance it's how they found my mom had leukemia.

[@Korilian13]

@@elipulci5761 we also have screenings for the most common cancers. You get invited for these if you're part of a risk group (f.e. women of a certain age).

[@hannarul1515]

When I've just moved to the Netherlands I fell from my bike and got a severe concussion. I spent a week in the hospital and there they treated me like a queen! ( with an average insurance). I didn't expect it at all. The nurse washed my hair, helped me to walk, changed my clothing. The stuff asked me what I want for a breakfast and cooked vegetarian dishes! They even put me in a personal isolated room with bathroom when noticed I hardly bear noises around! Unbelievable experience honestly

[@weeardguy]

Don't get me wrong, but usually, severe concussions are not something that gets you admitted to hospital for long in the Netherlands. Most people spend a day in hospital and if they have to stay for the night, they will usually be woken every hour for the first 6 hours, then every 2 hours for the remaining time and then be sent home for further recovery. Count yourself lucky that vegetarian dishes were available. Glutenfree-stuff like my sister has to eat is usually something they don't understand (yes, I don't understand how this is impossible in many hospitals as well)

[@smurfiennes]

Lucky you, which hospital was it?

[@weeardguy]

@@smurfiennes It most likely did not depend on the hospital itself, but whether you have people around you that can take care of you should that be necessary. If those people are not around, they will either try to arrange home-nursing, but those people are already very busy. So if there's no alternative at all, they will keep you in hospital. Ofcourse, there could be extra conditions that make a concussion far more dangerous than they are to other human beings.

[@jannetteberends8730]

@@weeardguywaarschijnlijk een hersenkneuzing. Dan moet je een tijd in het ziekenhuis blijven.

[@weeardguy]

@@jannetteberends8730 Dat zou natuurlijk kunnen ;) Maar een concussion is een hersenschudding en das toch wat anders ;)

[@edthejester]

I like how that one guy says "I paid a lot of money so I want my medicine". You did most certainly NOT pay a lot of money mate, and this is one of the reasons why.

[@iWhacko]

Exactly, the GP is exempt from "Eigen Risico" (or "Mandatory Excess"), so they will not cost you a thing. The Medicine your GP prescribes WILL cost you money. And also if he sends you to a specialist, it will cost you money. So if you don't need that, because your GP is a qualified medical professional, jsut believe it. And follow proper instructions.

[@jannetteberends8730]

Was thinking the same. He’s is not the smartest cookie in the jar.

[@nacholibre4516]

The doctors arent "googling"! They are working in a digital medical file. It registers all relevant data and collects it on a national level.

[@DiGiTimmiE]

Exactly. Every time a patient visits his doctor, it gets registered and documented in the patient's medical file.

[@raverali154]

It's almost impossible to read your writing.;)

[@hilarywilliams4946]

Not true, they are googling. Even my doctor turned the screen and said you can read it here on the screen yourself coz i was not happy with what she said. So yes they do google and at the same time type on a different tab your complains.

[@mohikaan96]

Jepp i am dutch myself and my doctor has never googling

[@raverali154]

@@mohikaan96 I assumed you were a doctor, that is why I made the joke. Googling is not a bad thing, they should do it more. They can only drive with Google Maps.

[@milamochel930]

The joke about euthanasia is honestly appalling. That is exactly the reason why people seem to think we just go around killing our elderly and sick whenever we feel like it. When, in fact, it's designed to help people with intens suffering, who can no longer be cured and there are strong laws put in place to make sure it's always done right.

[@yvonnewinters9699]

And you still need to be ‘in your right mind’ (aka with dementia it isn’t possible), to sign the forms, to understand what is happening and the effects of it.

[@donaldickbutt7133]

It was a funny joke. Lighten up a bit.

[@octavia3662]

​@@yvonnewinters9699 Exactly. Even if you are in very early stages of dementia and sign forms that state when you want to be euthanized - or even sign them when you’re still healthy as a ‘just in case’ - they will not honor them when the time comes, you need to be able to say the words. I’ve seen people with aphasia caused by dementia, who were otherwise still well aware of what was happening and who were denied euthanasia simply because they couldn’t say the words - despite the fact that they couldn’t say the words because they can’t speak anymore, not because they don’t know what they want anymore. Regardless of what I think of this approach it goes to show that euthanasia is not something they go about lightly in the Netherlands. It exists in the Netherlands, but definitely not for just anyone. I do understand it was just a joke. I also understand why people would say it lacked taste. On the topic of the video, I recognize this a lot, lol. My best friend is from another country and whenever I’m sick for a few days she does not understand why I don’t just go see a doctor. When she’s sick she usually schedules an appointment pretty quickly. I don’t go see a doctor because when I’m sick it’s pretty much always the flu and I know the doctor can’t help with that anyway. I don’t blame her for not understanding that. She’s been used to going to the doctor and get antibiotics for a lot of things quite easily ever since she was young enough to grasp the concept of a doctor. If I had been born in her country I’d have had the same mindset. It’s just what you do when that’s what you were taught, most people don’t question that.

[@sjakierulez]

@@octavia3662 Happened to mother of good friend of my mom too, she had all the forms signed but they refused to do it when she was still cabaple of saying it, because " she wasn't severe enough" , while later they refused because you was not capable anymore. My moms friend cried a lot, understandably

[@raverali154]

Medical ethics in The Netherlands is not just what you know, but also what you can't know. Some Dutch doctors believe too much in themselves and lie (to themselves and others).

[@A8r9t]

These reactions make me realise how happy I am to be a Dutch doctor and to be Dutch in general. As for U.S. doctors: they're definitely smart and capable, but the way they have to cater people makes them waiters in healthcare. Prescribing antibiotics without indication is not prevention, it's harmful.

[@AwoudeX]

the lawsuit culture there has made it so

[@TheLelaGh]

Hahahaha pls the dutch doctors are butchers. Pls tell that to people who does nt know. EVERYYBODY complains about dutch doctors oh sorry the butchers

[@weeardguy]

@@TheLelaGh Well, I've got quite some experience with both 2 of my own GP's which were great and never missed a beat, but also with GP's in completely different places (vacations) and emergency-GP's, and eye-surgeons, with especially the last completely earning the local title ('The Queen') she had in the hospital where I was treated. Yes, there are bad doctors out there, you got those everywhere. But I'm glad our system is at least tailored at helping those who are really sick and at least providing a sense of relief when given advice at a consult on something that may feel serious, while it's something that will cure itself without any medication at all, instead of medicating the shit out of people while they don't need those drugs at all.

[@samanthadenhoed9329]

@@TheLelaGh who is everybody?

[@putin_AI]

One time I had a stroke which went away again and then the Dutch doctor told me that it's fine and sent me back home. Later I had another stroke and got permanent damage. What a disgusting healthcare system. They were irresponsible with other issues of mine as well. Didn't even bother diagnosing stuff.

[@chriss687]

Yes, when in the Netherlands, you have to get used to not getting loaded with medications you dont need! Im very happy that my docter only prescibes medication when im actualy ill.

[@annemariecandyflip6531]

Finely someone's here with common sense

[@Nightowl5379]

Indeed its better. I lived in france and was actually surprised about medicine prescribed in huge amounts like enough for a year🤣

[@RainyBat]

When you're like me you have to get used to having to take tons of medication you don't need.

[@raymondk2202]

@@Nightowl5379 not only that, in doses that are leathal when you accidentely take two pills instead of one.... Here in Holland their very carefull in subscribing and doses so dutchies sometimes think oh well i can take two... not when ur get your pill from a France doctor!

[@suus-arido393]

This video was supposed to be funny and cute, instead all the Dutch people in the comments (including me) are horrified by the lack of care in other countries when it's about health care. Yes people. You need to be actually sick, to get the right meds! You don't go running to the doctor for a morphine shot every time you sneeze!

[@idc9419]

Well even the dutch doctors aren't great tho. I as a kid had always so much stomach ache and the ''huisarts' always brushed it off as a little stomach flu until one day my mom and dad just decided to go to the hospital in the middle of the night because i was in such pain i still remember till this day and when i was at the hospital in like 2/3 minutes i was diagnosed with a heavy inflammatory cecum and needed operation as soon as possible. Later on in my teenage years my elbow was broken and my 'huisarts' brushed it off as a bruise.. until again i went to the hospital and needed a operation and 3 months in a cast and remember i'm not talking in days between going to the 'huisarts' and hospital it's weeks/months.. I've walked with a inflammatory cecum for weeks, just because of my mom and dad taking me to the hospital it didn't explode inside me.. till this day i never trust the 'huisarts' and that's the reason i never really go but if i really don't have a option and i have to go i just ask to go to the hospital.

[@mybaozi2960]

@@idc9419 no offence but I think your doctor just sucks, it is true that they won't send you to the hospital very fast, but if you insist they will definitely send you for a check up

[@cyriell]

@@mybaozi2960 this my doctor will send you through if it's really bad or if you demand more checkups in a hospital he will send you, inmy town demanding that is not taken lightly because people use it in very bad cases

[@purplesky416]

@@idc9419 You have to be very clear in what you have, how much it bothers and what you want. My mom thought me to sometimes over exagerate. I always can go to the hospital if I want to. I just tell my 'huisarts' that I want to go to the hospital even if it's just for a check up and he lets me.

[@idc9419]

@@purplesky416 Yeah I'm doing the same thing for years now because i don't trust my 'huisarts'

[@donnathelightningbug]

Or you could go to the doctor when you're actually sick and then you'll actually be given medicine. Wtf are doctors in these other countries doing? Well in the case of the US prescribing opioids I guess, but in the other other countries.

[@MLWJ1993]

Prescribe antibiotics, even if doing so is actually doing more harm then good if the patient isn't actually very sick...

[@robertdegroot8302]

I know a few foreign doctors and they told me that they routinely prescribe something to people just to get rid of them. If you tell people they're not sick enough to warrant antibiotics, an injection, or a special examination, they will get angry because you're refusing to help them. This will end up costing lots of time and a bad reputation in your neighbourhood so the easiest thing is to just give them what they want and they'll move on. I do hear regular stories of people walking around with pathogens or tumors and not having it discovered because their Dutch general physician failed to take the symptoms seriously. That's the other side of the coin. I would be interested to know if there's a measurable difference in the stage at which diseases are diagnosed here compared to other countries.

[@KITScontestentry]

In the Netherlands you get routinely checked for colon, cervical and other common cancers once you reach an age at which you are high risk. A lot of colon cancers are found at a very early stage in the Netherlands, and they start treatment very fast compared to some other European countries.

[@Loriani93]

@@KITScontestentry You do?

[@KITScontestentry]

Yes cervical if you are 30 or 35+, colon after you are 50 if I remember correctly. I'm too young to be high risk for these cancers, but I know multiple people who have been diagnosed early with colon cancer this way. Some only needed surgery, some needed surgery and one course of chemo but all are doing well now because it was diagnosed so early

[@ArtemisDD]

2:37: "The American system is mainly focused on prevention." The prevention of what exactly? Obesity, opioid addiction? You don't truly believe in this inaccurate statement, do you?

[@weeardguy]

Well, there is a sense of truth in that statement: the 'full physicals' they do in the USA ofcourse can get a very early diagnosis on serious and possible life-threatening issues. But we tend to take the costs and effectiveness of such screenings and balance them out: if it hardly saves a life and thus only costs money, why do it?

[@Soladrin]

@@weeardguy The american system is entirely for profit. I has no interest in actually curing you.

[@weeardguy]

@@Soladrin Probably true (I'm a bit cautious to say 'yes' to something I know so little about and tend to have some prejudice about) but as said: I can really relate to a certain amount of people getting a very early diagnosis on life-threatening issues because of a full-physical: what happens next is not up to me ofcourse ;)

[@ninadegroot9819]

“This is what I have, this is what I want and this is what I want you to prescribe” no no nooo this attitude is all wrong.

[@martspil9848]

It should be, these are my symptoms how can u help me?

[@Onnoloveslife]

Nope this is actually the correct way to go to a Dutch doctor if you really want to get something and I'm Dutch it's half of the time how I go to the doctor.

[@martspil9848]

Onnoloveslife well you shouldn’t have to know what it is that you have, you can have done some research, but the doctor most likely will know better, you can say what you expect that it is, but you should listen to the doctor.

[@Onnoloveslife]

@@martspil9848 well I have had I went for a huge pain in my back and the doctors response was do yoga while I definitely needed a fysio. So yes sometimes I go because I know what I need and I'll ask for it sometimes I let them figure it out.

[@martspil9848]

Onnoloveslife if you need physical therapy you should go immediately to them, your gp just has to say it’s alright which they will almost always do.

[@jouwbuisable]

Echte griep duurt 5 dagen. Voor verkoudheid bestaat geen medicijn. Grappig filmpje, dat well. Door de houding van deze mensen zal gezondheidszorg nog duurder worden.

[@bas4752]

En zojuist kreeg ik een berichtje vanmorgen, volgens jaar 60 euro meer. Dus 5,- per maand 👍

[@dennisvisser3910]

Bas Knijn omdat sommige mensen niet nadenken.....

[@Pfirtzer]

Heb ze niet binnengehaald dus ja, enjoy .

[@robertneven7563]

jouwbuisable, merk dat er veel Nederlanders (zei die er het geld voor hebben )naar Belgische dokters en ziekenhuizen komen

[@saladspinner3200]

Een ziekteverzekering in België kost nog geen 100 euro per jaar voor een alleenstaande. Hier krijg je echter wel een gepaste behandeling en medicijnen in voorschrift. De boodschap "ga naar huis en ziek uit" , zou tot een nationale opstand leiden...

[@AnswersFromJenesis]

Sounds like a great system to me! We WAY over-medicate here in the US.

[@bas4752]

TAKE THIS IT WILL HELP YOU, AND OH THATS $500 PLEASE

[@dennisvisser3910]

Bas Knijn perfect example of the usa med system😂 We laugh in cheap healthcare and paracetamol.

[@bas4752]

@@dennisvisser3910 ja ze denken dat ze t zo mooi voor elkaar hebben maar je kan daar gewoon onverzekerd rondlopen

[@alexwilder8315]

Sounded one-for-one like the Australian system basically. Except here they don't have the decency to Google the stuff you come to them with.

[@lexroet1215]

Most of the time when I go they just tell me to take it easy and will disappear. Almost every time they where right there is no point in giving meds if they aren't necessary.

[@liannefee9638]

I totally agree on that

[@nimmen]

I went to the doctor once because I had an eye infection. She sent me for an appointment with the eye doctor in the hospital that same day. He checked my eye and confirmed I had damaged my cornea and it had infected. He proscribed me an antibiotic ointment, I had to apply it over the course of two weeks. The infection cleared up the next day and the day after it was gone. Continued my two weeks and got checked again. Everything healed fine and my visus was back at 1.2. No scar damage. In short: when it's serious, they're very effective. If you have a cold or mild flu, best thing is to sick it out at home of course. Don't come to the doctor being a risk to potential weaker patients who have to be there too.

[@hjge1012]

What a weird complaints. Looking something up in a database -- how is that bad? Only giving you serious medicine when you're actually sick -- again: how is that bad? These people should ask themselves: if the dutch aren't sick more, why are we taking so much medicine?

[@nvwest]

Agree

[@za.z.6061]

I agree with you reasoning and I think this makes for an efficient healthcare system, but from the comment I also get the feeling that there is no prevention check-up done or that it isn't common (like after 45 years old, get your tension taken and do some blood test to see if any diabetes or cholesterol are sneaking in before any symptoms are felt). If this is the case could it explain why NL has a a lower life expectancy than say France or Sweden (81.81 years vs 82.72 / 82.56 years) [even though NL still has a very high life expectancy compare to other Europeans countries or in the world]

[@liviamoraes2573]

All these people survived with just paracetamol, guess you didn't need the antibiotics after all :)

[@stanwestervelt75]

I'm 39 years old and Dutch. The last time i've seen my docter I was 4! We Dutch go only when it's absolutely necessary!

[@Seung217]

I think i have an infection in my penis because sometimes it stings and i have a burning sensation Do u think this is necessary?

[@sophiehagemeijer927]

@@Seung217 Im not sure whether you are being serious by commenting here; but if you really have these symptoms you can ask yourself if you find them annoying. could be a couple of things; fungal or bacterial for example. the fungal thing can go away on its own; but you can get treatment to help clearing it out quicker and a UTI (bacterial) would need to be treated going off the fact you are a male (but thats a guess!). STI's are always possible depending on your hobbies hahah. its good to get tested regularly. good luck :)

[@jeroenvanrooijen1086]

Because in many countries antibiotics are given to easily many people no longer react to antibiotics. This is a very serious problem.

[@rogerofmacau]

My only issue was finding a GP that was available for new patients. I understand that there is a big shortage of GPs in the Netherlands. The efficiency is important in that case. No need to go to gp if you just have a simple cold.

[@liannefee9638]

Even if there wasn't a shortage dutch people wpuld still not go to the doctor when they have a cold. Why should you? And besides that, most if us share the opninion the less medicine/junk in our bodies the better. Only use medicine when it doesn't heal itself, it crestes side effects or when you are in deep pain.

[@emilianosc335]

When my (dutch) father in law got sick last year with an infection he got a top notch "service" that saved is life and made him recover quite well, considering his age and overall health conditions. Yes, visiting the house doctor sometimes is puzzling, especially if you are used to a different approach, but overall they take good care of you and so far I've always got all the tests and exams I needed and in a couple of occasions even antibiotics (for neumonia, not a cold)

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

Yes, you will get everything you NEED without issue or question. But if you won't get anything you don't need.

[@anaikaschippers-juergens7706]

So I am a doctor and it is recognisable. A lot of smal ailments heal fine by themself with Paracetamol to help you for the pain. The eating of a sandwich during a phisical examn however is totaly unhigenic and out of order. Please do not put up with that. A docters appointment can not be treated as a visit to the cinima by the phisician, I am appauld 😵

[@PetarTofevski]

Yes, its true that a lot of small ailments will be fine, but when I come to you with agonizing pain in the back and lack of breath ( diagnosis 2 scoliosis, 1discushernia and 1 spondylosis ) get Paracetamol and you will be fine. The diagnosis were given by a Dutch hospital... What would you do in that case ?

[@pinadevos]

Speak up....

[@sanja12]

Pina de Vos Speak up to who? Who’s going to listen to you?? My experience is that Dutch medical systems are asking for to be rather “ rude” and not to leave before they do something. This is so very annoying and frustrating because they don’t take you seriously 😒

[@PetarTofevski]

@@sanja12 I was as rude as I can be, I would not like to go further than the appropriate rude, but no luck, I am just going to a chiropractor now and its better.

[@sanja12]

@@PetarTofevski what a coincidence I just did the same thing! Glad to hear that chiropractor helps! I am walking with heavily pain in neck and shoulders for the last 2 -3 years and just like you I literally tried everything to get that appointment to specialist or for MRI scan because that diagnostic test was absolutely necessary. Regardless of everything I had to go to another country to investigate further. With MRI results finally I could go to Chiropractor and he can do his work. Feel slightly improvement already which is good! But You are right , rude or not rude it doesn't matter they will not help you to search for a "cause" of your pain but mostly just prescribe Paracetamol or a bit stronger Ibuprofen (Hurray for Pharmacy companies!!) and send you home.

[@rightuppercut1426]

I’m a dutch guy and never had paracetamol prescribed by my doctor. Probably the foreigners here go to the doctor with very, very minor issues, that are easily resolved with paracetamol. They could have easily taken this themselves at home without visiting the doctor.

[@barryschalkwijk9388]

Bullshit they hand that shit out as a fuck you buddy bandaid all the time.

[@vincentwolbers7471]

The reason why you go to GP office when your sick, it is free for everyone with a (dutch) health insurance (you already paid with your health insurance). For the hospital you have to pay the actual cost, first from your "own risk" (€385) to health insurer, above €385 will pay the health insurer.

[@jiriwichern]

That's intentional. The GP has been assigned 'de poortwachtersfunctie' / 'gate-keeper' to the Dutch healthcare system. You always first visit your GP, unless the situation is immediately life threatening. And because of that, it's been made free from your own risk because else people may hesitate to seek medical attention ('zorgmijden').

[@lindahoffman8296]

The funny thing is that no one off the people in the interview mentioned that they in fact all got better without treatment they thought they needed and didn’t get.

[@loesje1234]

wow, for sure this should be the first comment up here

[@anneliesegberink8281]

When I lived in Wales The doctors used to greet me with their prescription paper and pen ready. I used t come in saying: I am not here for antibiotics but here are my symptoms. The answer would always be an astonished: then why did you come? Really, all these doctors did was prescribing antibiotics as is they could cure anything. There is more to practicing medicine than antibiotics...

[@letta1]

In USA lots of docters dont need to look for the different medication because they have agreements with farmaceutic companys and so prescribe expensive meds, brands. Also in Holland antibiotics are not the answer for all things, its only used when its serious.. as in Holland they dont want people to be resistant against some antibiotocs while you can just "sick it out"

[@dennisvisser3910]

That’s another reason our healthcare is actually afotable for all unlike in the usa

[@Pfirtzer]

I am very very resistant to the Dutch virus.

[@bydrage23]

I was in Venlo for Erasmus, 3days before moving back home I got really sick. I had unbearable backpain and a fever that kept going up. I was used to hungarian way of not going in util I'm almost dead so the next day once decided to go to the huisearzt i couldn't stand upright or walk, my friends draged me. The doctor was annoyed because he tought I'm overreacting, up until he took my temperature and it was 40°C he freaked out and did a blood and unrie test right away there on the spot, half an hour later I knew I have severe kidney infection i got antibiotics and he told me to get an ultrasound as soon as Im home, since I was leaving the country in 2 days. I came back to hungary and called for an appointment the same they. They gave me an appointment for ultrasound six moths later. I told them it's urgent I'm having kidney problems, the answer was well so does everyone else in the six months till your appointment. Moral of the story: I was super pleased with the doctor, and i rather take paracetamol for the rest of my life if that means I get a treatment like this when I actually need it becose they have more time for people with bigger issues then a cold.

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

That is the point. You get perfect care and everything you need when you actually NEED it. If you don't need anything you get paracetamol to ease the pain until your body fixes you itself..

[@DezRosswess]

I've found the doctors to very direct they want to get straight to what the problem is, but they are thorough and I have been given stronger medicene when it was needed.

[@julianr2274]

I would love for you to make an part 2, reading out some comments and explaining how it really works.

[@Formanian]

I work in healthcare in NL and have noticed an interesting consequence of this attitude now with covid: people that return from countries that provided them with heavy medicines when they tested positive. Instead of dealing with their mild covid symptoms they now deal with nasty side-effects from the medicines they used...

[@roquebello1816]

I read you work in healthcare in Netherlands. A dutch friend told me when she went to her male huisarts' practice for her first full physical examination there was no gown. Is this possible? Could this story be true?

[@roquebello1816]

She told me that she was not technically completely naked in front of her male huisarts because her socks were still on. It was winter!

[@lukasvandewiel860]

The doctor managed to sell very expensive medicines to patients that did not really need them in order to strike up a nice commission. Mission accomplished.

[@gardenjoy5223]

@@roquebello1816 She must have understood him wrong. She could have kept her underwear on, to say the least. And if you are uncomfortable, a doctor will listen to your chest through your blouse too. That's going to be rather different at the gynecology department though. There you literally are in your socks, as the doctor will search your breasts for lumps and will take a smear from your vagina. This ought not occur at the general practitioners office. And no, there is no gown, since you don't ever need one in a gp's office anyway. Keep your clothes on. And no worries, we do have central heating in the Netherlands.

[@roquebello1816]

@@gardenjoy5223 In closing, is she a liar?

[@josefinholgersson596]

As a Swede living in Netherlands for 7 years I can say I've been very happy with the system. I've always gotten the help I need. If I needed antibiotics I got it. If I needed to go to a specialist I got to go to a specialist. They always got to the bottom of the issue, and if the medicine I got wasn't strong enough, I got stronger medicine. The only time ever when I thought it was slow was whilst giving birth. As I came into the hospital I was 6cm dilated, they asked if I wanted pain relief. I said yes, they did nothing for about 45-60 mins, came back in checked me and said it was too late. Appearently this happens a lot I've heard. And obviously they told me to take paracetamol against the pain of the contractions, wouldn't be Netherlands unless they did Haha.

[@yassimob3868]

Vad trevligt att du bor i Nederländerna! Tycker du att livet är bättre där?

[@jankuiper3422]

My mother always says "When you get the flu you''re sick for seven days, when you go to the 'huisarts' you're sick for a week." For just a modest flu, you don't get pumped full with drugs here. You should really only go when you have serious stuff. Walk it off mentality.

[@stevendebont1975]

i am dutch, and i am a bit annoyed by the fact that someone said he was annoyed by a huisarts telling him to go to someone else cuz he cant fix it. But you should think of from the other doctors perspective, do you think he'll like it if he has people coming over all the time and it is just a minor disease that the body can fix by itself. and that would cost even more money cuz you won't get anything.

[@TheArgumento1986]

I agree with the Dutch approach. Luckily I am a very healthy person, but I only go to a Dr when I am very sick, and only take paracetamol when I have like a severe headache.

[@GabrielPettier]

"did you ever get antibiotics?" "i had to be actually sick" That’s GOOD, antibiotics overuse is a *big* problem. For now we only went once to the doctor (i went to translate for my partner, who doesn’t speak english very well), and the doctor was *really* patient, and willing to do blood tests to check the cause of the general weakness she felt, (lack of vitamin D it turns out), and even to prescribe psychologist visits for the anxiety she has (from having moved from a different country recently and the whole pandemic thing making things harder). So maybe we were lucky, but that’s certainly better than what people are describing. Although yeah, they certainly don’t rush to prescribe things you don’t need (which seems good to me).

[@ronrolfsen3977]

That is also my experience with the doctor. Regardless if it was an appointment or in the "spreekuur". However, my friend had a doctor that was just plain weird. You could only make one appointment of 10 minutes and could only discuss one issue (same in the speekuur).

[@weeardguy]

@@ronrolfsen3977 Well, appointments at my GP are also 10 minutes in general. If you keep your mouth shut, it will be 10 minutes. Unless you state you've got multiple issues to discuss or are in need of some mental relief that can take a bit more time they will schedule a double appointment (and there are probably longer ones possible as well, never needed them though).

[@boldvankaalen3896]

@4:23 Medication for the cold? There is this saying: Without medication it takes seven days to get over the cold, with medication it takes a week. Any medication for the cold just reduce the symptoms a bit, with the danger that you do not take the rest your body needs to really recover, so that the cold can become chronical. Also special medicine against the cold is just a mixture of different over the counter symptom suppressors that are mostly cheaper when buying separately and in practice you do not need all of them.

[@DanDanDoe]

Of all your videos this one has left me most speechless. The culture shock is real. I remember when I was dating an American girl she visited me for a few months. At one point she got a bit ill, kinda like a very severe cold or something. She was definitely overreacting, but just in case I took her to my (female) GP. My girlfriend was shocked that the GP didn't prescribe anything and just advised her to take it easy, rest etc. She was so used to just taking a shitload of antibiotics and continue working etc. It shocks me to see so many people think it's weird the doctor's advise is to just take things easy, take a few days off and let your body rest to fight off the virus. Do you want to work when you're actually ill?

[@Seung217]

I think i have an infection in my penis because sometimes it stings and can feel burning sensation Would this be necessary?

[@Lucvandeven272]

@@Seung217 Just take some Paracetamol and rest my dude, you and your penis will be fine within a couple of days.

[@grapefruitbierchen2141]

I feel offended by this video and I´m not even dutch. All I have to say: Kamillentee, Pfefferminztee, Fencheltee, Grüße aus Deutschland

[@tinyme2139]

Chicken soup , orange juice en uitzieken !

[@zitzak2794]

yes haha, i am dutch but, if you sick get a bucket and some tea, you will be fineee

[@Widdekuu91]

I love beschuitje met hagelslag and some bits of apple or pear. And sleep. Usually that does the trick. Liebe Grüße zurück aus die Niederlande.

[@rembrandvanduijvenbode6473]

I can’t recognize these complaints by the interviewed people. 1. Dutch people go to the huisarts when they have something that needs attention. They don’t go for having a cold or an unidentified not feeling well 2. The huisarts records your complaints in a digital system. Sometimes they have look up which medication is paid by the health insurance. They aren’t googling because they can’t make a diagnosis. 3. Huisartsen are paid per patient per year. They are not paid per visit so there isn’t any incentive to let you come back to provide you with another bill like in many other countries. 4. By letting the huisartsen screening patients before seeing a “specialist”, costs are suppressed and time isn’t wasted in the so-called second line care. 5. Euthanasia isn’t something that is done lightly. It is covered with all kind of guardrails. So the Respondent’s remark on euthanasia is completely misplaced.

[@JustmeNici]

I learned most of my English through watching KZbin videos when I was a kid and I remember seeing a vlog where someone mentioned cold medicine and I was like ??? Medicine for a cold? Here in the Netherlands we just keep going when we have a cold😂😂😂

[@lienbijs1205]

It is a culture matter. My husband is not Dutch but I am. Everytime when one of our children are ill, my husbands first question is if I called the doctor already. He still feels like it is a kind of neglection to not go for every cold, flu or fever to the doctor. With flu I only give paraceramol when the temperature is higher than 39,5 because fever is the best medicine for killing a virus.

[@michelebartoli6429]

Die droeftoeter op 4:10 gaat serieus de Eerste hulp bellen als hij een paar dagen met griep op bed ligt?

[@Rob-rg7ix]

The human body can handle most things without medicin. I think most country’s give to much to soon. This makes us humans only weaker in the long run.

[@Seung217]

I think i have an infection in my penis Because it sometimes stings and i have a burning sensation Would this be necessary?

[@Wanderleane]

My friend had a bad experience with the doctors too. She already have been to 4 doctors coz she feels really sick. The first one was telling her to take a rest and just take a paracetamol, 2nd is the same, 3rd one was the one who discovered what's her illness and then she was referred to 4th Doctor that specializes about the Neuro. I almost lost a friend because of poor assessment. We thought she was pregnant, or it's just a flu or got poisoned but in the real scenario, she has a TB in her brain. A bit scary. I'm very thankful to 3rd doctor that assessed her very well about her symptoms. She is now saved and still recovering also she is still on her last treatment (discharge medications). Tip: if you felt something is really bad to your body, you can always go to the doctor as many as you can so you will be properly assessed. Save yourself.

[@spvdijk]

When you feel really sick, you can ask the doctor to be referred to an expert. They nearly always do it.

[@noisemagician]

Dutch docter are great, they don't prescribe you medication unless it's absolutely necessary, look at the US's opioid epidemic and the problems with bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. In most cases your body will recover if you rest and sleep no need for unnecessary medication.

[@Seung217]

I think i have an infection in my penis because it sometimes stings and i feel burning sensation Would this be necessary?

[@noisemagician]

@@Seung217 What do you think? Are you Dutch? If so then you probably know what to do because sex-ed in the Netherlands is pretty damn good.

[@loladonai3744]

your body can heal itself with rest/sleep and vitamins. Just give it a few days. Medication has side effects, it is not always totally healthy nor needed. Antibiotics create resistentie. that means it might not work well if you use it often. The doctor only gives it to you in extreme cases, so that when you use it, it actually works. You should thank these doctors! if they give it all the time, it might not work in severe cases when you seriously need its effects.

[@BramLastname]

Not even just extreme cases, Contrary to popular belief antibiotics aren't effective against viruses and physical ailments, So unless the doctor knows it's going to help, They're not describing a medicine.

[@pappy9473]

When asked if he had ever received antibiotics he said 'yes'. He proceded to say 'it was hard...' and ' I actually had to be sick...' Enough said? No. Later he said the cost for medical care was dramatically lower than in the USA. In other countries doctors are basically pushing prescribed drugs- including antibiotics, at the behest of the pharmaceutical giants. In addition, one only has to look at the USA and the issues with legal and illegal drugs and the antibiotic resistance increase within the population. Also the amount of people who delay medical care due to expense in the US is shameful. The Dutch and European health care services are, by and large, to be admired.

[@tonchristiaanse1315]

The Dutch are among the healthiest people and have the longest average life expectancy. There are waiting lists but overall healthcare is very good and efficient and (still) relatively affordable.

[@maui_travels_]

As a Dutch person I am used to doctors only giving me medication when I really need it . When I got sick in Thailand and the doctor told me to take antibiotics I did. I ended up getting different antibiotics for about a month and I only got more and more sick. in Asia in general people do what the doctor says without questioning it. Here in the Netherlands we always ask the doctor everything. after One month Of Being sick the doctor told me I have to take a Blood test and go to a bigger Hospital. I took a nighboat to a diffetent island and went to the hospital. When I arrived at the ER they said it was not an emergency and i had to come back when the regular hospital is open. I went to the doctor and he told me to take Different medication and come back in two weeks I Walked Away and realize he did not Take The Blood test. With The Last energy i had I Turned Around and said i will not Leave Until he did the tests. They tested me and it turned out i had a bacterial infection, Blood poisoning and a double ear infection. I was inmediately hospitalized. If I Had left like the doctor said i could have been dead within a week. I think it's good Doctors in the Netherlands are Holding Back giving medication because after that shit in thailand, my Body will be non-responsive to certain antibiotics when my life could depend on it. Stop wining And Only Take Medicine When It's necessary.

[@ambervputten3322]

Glad you stood by and took the blood test. Cuz that is really dangerous. Luckily you can still tell us to hear your experience

[@Roel_Scoot]

This yearly checkup in the US is just there to make more money from healthy people. In the Netherlands we have health checks if it is nescessary: cervical cancer checks and mamal checks for women and checking for colon cancer for men from a certain age, plus there is a special vaccination program for several illnesses. These healthchecks are free and organised by the governement. Btw: a broken arm is not healing by any medicin but by the body itself. The medical treatment is focused to make sure that the healing is neat (surgery, setting, spalking) and without complications as an infection (like antibiotics if needed)

[@lunakeizer262]

To let your body heal it self, you create a stronger immuunsystem and antivirus. So you are les likely to get sick next time or your body knows knows next time how to react to the virus.

[@cheneyww]

Not sure how valid this argument is. Indeed you can have some immunity after being exposed to a virus. But 1) in many cases, the immunity does not last long. For example, people have to take flu shots each year; 2) no research shows that people redevelop immunity more easily (having less severe symptoms); 3) some virus are simply too deadly. For example, all newborns have to take small pox vaccines; 4) not all people react to the pathogens in the same way, and some may develop more severe symptoms. Modern medicine is based on the scientific approach of doing experiments and observing the average effects or responses. If indeed the responses are normally distributed, there bound to be people who have very different responses from an average person.

[@KITScontestentry]

@@cheneyww you are wrong (I'm an immunologist that researches viruses and the memory response). You do have a long lasting memory, but flu mutates. In recent years a flu similar to the Spanish flu appeared, and people that had survived Spanish flu in their childhood were a lot more resistant against this strain. Which means the immune memory lasted decades. After reinfection with the same disease as you had before, the disease will be less severe or resolved quicker than it would have been compared to a first infection for many diseases

[@martspil9848]

Emperor Xi I think Luna Keizer is talking about mild sickness, which means puking and barely able to eat and feeling awful. This sucks, but for he common cold and the flu are no medicines so getting any would not help. vaccines are also just the sickness so your body can fight it and remembers how to fight it.

[@-_.---._.-_-.--._--]

As a Dutch person, I now finally understand why in tv series from other countries they get special medicines for the commen cold or influenza (I just thought they were exaggerating for tv's sake) . If I've influenze with fever and can't go anywhere, I don't even go to the doctor. I just take my paracetamol and wait it out. Never new this "lack of treatment" was a cultural thing.

[@douwe4254]

As a Dutch guy in his 30's I have learned a lot from our doctors, even our vets. They have a very healthy attitude that your body is perfectly capable to heal itself with all minor inconveniences. As long as your life is not on the line, they will walk all the steps with you, but then shake your hand and wish you well during your healing/resting period. What they said at the end of this video is the true reason. To filter out those that will visit the doctor for the smallest things, for nothing. And in a lot of other countries, they do that a lot. Medicine for the flu? Is there a medicine for Corona you can buy in a store? No. So, people generally buy "medicine" while they are sick, to feel like they are getting better, or they are taking care of themselves. Truth is... with the common cold, you don't need medicine, your body will do it for you. What dutch doctors are looking for are signs that something really bad might be happening and in ANY doubt, they will take tests. And they pay more attention the older you get. When I was 20 I was rarely helped. Now I'm 30+ and a little overweight, my doctor is generally keeping a close ear when I get in touch with them. But equally, a "little backpain" can be ignored a little too long and cripple you if you actually got a hernia, shit like that also happens. And that filter is to blame.

[@kevartje1295]

You know, we are not that weak, we go to the doctor when it's ABSOLUTELY necessary. If you come in with a headache, of course the doctor is gonna prescribe you paracetamol, theres no need for you to go to a doctor if you have a headache once in a while. The shingles the woman at 3:30 is taking about is perfecly treatable with ointments (that are available in almost any supermarket) and 3 weeks time. I broke my collarbone by falling off a horse a few years back. I fell, felt nausious for a few minutes, couldn't move my arm backwards, only forwards. I went to the scouts the same evening from 8 pm to 10:30 pm, then I slept a night and the next day I still couldn't move my arm backwards so we went to a hospital and they said it was broken. they gave me a sling and everything turned out ok.

[@sineye7003]

The words that they use are praising yet their tone sounds insulting... “they only give you medicine when you’re actually sick... the audacity!”

[@lukasvandewiel860]

I had a great colleague from the US, but his wife was very traditional, with the mentality "things are different than in the US, so they are terrible". I actually pitied her...

[@hannahwouldprefernotto3894]

i just read the comments below and you're right, you don't need to go to the doctor with a cold, they can't do much to speed up the process. but there are many other more dangerous things they won't help you with either. it caused me and others lasting harm, because things didn't get checked and when you're poor you just can't pay for blood tests, x-rays etc. yourself.

[@weeardguy]

Uhm, I'm afraid you didn't read up on the terms and conditions of your medical insurance... So many things are covered and while you will have to use your excess cover for the first 385 euro, the insurance will cover the rest (except for treatments that surpass the tens of thousands of euros, but those are very rare). I can't look in anyone's wallet, but spending your excess cover is plain stupid: if you still got it at the last day of the year, count yourself lucky nothing happened to you that you had to use it, but if you do needed it, it was there because you kept it there.

[@carolineharmsel3753]

I’m a Dutch person living in Egypt. So I have some experience with other healthcare also. The Egyptian people over here run for every little something to a doctor and expect medicines. Those medicines must help the “patient “ immediately in a day or 2. If not, they don’t take the medicines anymore and go to another doctor and hope to get from him other “wonder” medication that does do the trick in 2 days. With a common cold they want antibiotics and a lot! Also anti histamine is here used as candy. If the complaint in The Netherlands is that you get a paracetamol for “a broken leg”, in Egypt they give you antibiotics and anti histamine for a “splinter in your finger”. Baby’s are getting antibiotics injections and tablets if they have a common cold. Seen it myself. And it is not the doctor who is giving it to the baby but a woman in the village who for example worked many years ago in a pharmacy. And don’t expect her to wash or sterilise her hands or the skin where she will inject. A lot of baby’s die here because of medicine poisoning. The heaviest antibiotics and other medicines can be purchased without doctor’s prescriptions in every pharmacy. And then to think of the fact that most Egyptians don’t have health insurance and have to pay everything out of their own pocket. And sorry to say but Egyptians are totally hypochondriac. So maybe the Dutch system is not completely 100% and there is always reasons for improvement, but I favour the Dutch “nuchter” way far more then all that medicine use. Especially the unnecessary use of antibiotics what is causing nowadays a huge problem all over the world! (Think only of the MRSA bacteria!)

[@cebruthius]

This reminds me of the IV drip cult of Cambodia

[@jc_user]

Eens was ik in New York op stedentrip, had een kleine infectie waarvoor je in Nederland bij de huisarts terecht zou kunnen. In de VS werd het direct hospital met 6 zusters om je bed. Dure grap.

[@Jagoisso]

I had the broken leg and the doctor did not prescribe paracetamol ;)

[@mart9214]

You don't need paracetamol, just some plaster and youre fine in a few weeks.

[@Jagoisso]

@@mart9214 I'm thinking you're meaning plaster as in pleister, then not so much ;). Plaster in the English sense comes pretty close though!

[@Roozyj]

@@Jagoisso I think he actually meant plaster as in gips though. Maybe Google translated it, because Google translated it back to 'gips' xD

[@efosdk2925]

Plaster is gips in het Engels. Bandage is pleister.

[@Jagoisso]

@@Roozyj Yes I know, which I said in the English sense 👌🏼, but because he said you wouldn't need paracetamol I was confused. You definitely do need paracetamol, and the stuff on top, maybe less once you get a leg cast but still hurts like a bitch (not the most painful but quite so)

[@estherkruithof432]

Bellen naar de huisarts wanneer je 3 dagen de griep hebt? En je een jonge gezonde vent bent? Wat wil je dat de huisarts doet? Meteen aan de antibiotica?

[@YouriHL]

What occurs to me about foreigners visiting a doctor's office or medical centre, is that they expect to get morfine or whatever heavy medicine or anti biotics for very simple conditions. I mean, why would you want to get morfine for a headache ? Ridiculous. The Dutch health system is one of the best in the world.

[@anita64]

Doctors in a lot of other countries don't hesitate to write a prescription for medication even if you just have a common cold. If it doesn't seem to work they'll just prescribe something else. So the people in those countries are led to believe every illness, no matter how innocent, needs medication to get cured. The fact is, not all illnesses need medication to cure. Rest will get you far in many of those cases and so does Paracetamol. In some countries you get antibiotics for a common cold, for every little infection even when it's not necessary. This will lead to people getting immune to antibiotics. After some time they won't work anymore because your body is used to them. That's why they are so reluctant to prescribe antibiotics in the Netherlands. Only when it's really necessary doctors will prescribe it.

[@mariekevoogd]

Jesus, these people are so 'kleinzerig' as we say in Dutch hahaha. The human body gets sick, it happens.

[@1990iRock]

Tbh I'm dutch and I have no idea what medicine for a cold or flu is. Does it relieve the syptoms? We only have cough syrups and pain killers

[@jeremr-n2938]

Basically, dutch doctor experience for me was... I was super sick, out of work for 3 days, I basically had to puke in the clinic... He says, there is a virus at the moment, we don't really have a cure, drink water you should be fine in a few days... I guess after the fever was out and I could eat again I was fine in a week lol...

[@Leviwosc]

Thus he was right. You were already sick, your body had to fight the virus itself and it worked.

[@gardenjoy5223]

Yes, a 'buikgriep' (stomach flu) virus is making you feel you are going to die, since you keep puking. Horrid. But indeed, there are no medications against it. When a doctor knows such a virus is afloat amongst a certain population, there's nothing that can help you, but staying hydrated. And although you feel most awful, it's really not dangerous. If you are not very old or battling another disease, you must go home and go 'uitzieken' (best translation I found so far: sweat it out).

[@Katherine-em4fl]

In France we had a campaign warning about the risks of antibiotics and how it shouldn't be prescribed blindly every time you're sick: "Antibiotic, it's not automatic!" I think it's actually a good sign that doctors don't prescribe tons of products, it shows that they're not here to make business.

[@Ed19601]

Never seen my doctor google anything. They do fill out a lot on the computer though while interviewing you. Yes for more than one complaint you make a double (or triple) appointment. This has to do with time management and ofcourse payment. The aim of the dutch healthcare system is to solve as much as possible in the 'first line'. So unless really an emergency go to 'huisarts' first. After hours this means that you can go to a 'huisartspost' (family physician station). Ironically those are often in a hospital. Unlike many other countries docters here are not keen to easily prescribe antibiotics or corticosteroids unless the need is really established. As one of the girls says: its best to be direct. That is in fact best to be in all your dealings with the dutch. We are very direct to a point that foreigners even may think we are rude. Just don't beat around the bush, just say what you want

[@b.elzebub9252]

6:30 Dutch medical practice might seem a little Spartan at first, but there's sound reasoning behind it. They don't want to prescribe you any medication until they're certain you actually need it. Most medication is no joke and come with serious side effects to you and the environment. Over-prescribing of f.e. antibiotics can lead to resistance/immunity in bacteria. The vast majority of medication is also not exactly healthy for your own body. So often it's much better to just accept feeling shitty for a couple days and let your own immune system take care of business. Added benefit is the cost-reduction and your body gets used to this, so the next time you're much less likely to get sick due to build up immunity in your body.

[@DiaborMagics]

I'm dutch and I don't recognize this at all. Maybe my general practitioner does things differently but she always listens, does tests when needed, prescribes antibiotics when needed, etc. Though maybe it's because I never go to the doctor for a common cold. Food, water and rest and you're out and about soon enough.

[@annekathleen4498]

What I find strange is that when you have say the flu, there's no point going to your GP because it's just the flu but your boss insists that you prove you are ill so need to see your doctor 🤷. I used to phone my doctor and tell them that I was at home with the flu so I could honestly tell my boss, yes I've spoken to my doctor

[@richardermstrang]

Wow, how people seem to expect to get medicine for everything... That's exactly why you get screened beforehand to determine whether or not you actually need to come in🤣 Obviously, when you get paracetamol for a broken limb, that's not good, but I've never heard of that.

[@dennisvisser3910]

U don’t need asprine for a broken leg unlis u do hard work. And realy can’t mis a day of propper rest. Some paracetamol or the heavy version should be enough tho.

[@Keyboardje]

I think they meant that the broken limb WAS treated, but the "take paracetamol" was after that, to make it hurt less. But they are obviously used to be given strong(er) meds and even antibiotics, even though that is BS because it does nothing in helping a broken bone. Their doctors get payed big bucks for every pill or treatment they prescribe, making people believe they need them so they can earn more money. Antibiotics also do NOT work to prevent you getting sick, as all these people are made to believe. They only cure, not prevent.

[@norwegian52]

Paracetamol for a broken arm or leg sounds out rages

[@weeardguy]

@@norwegian52 And probably is how Keyboardje explained it. Really, we don't do that in The Netherlands. Big chance the average GP hardly ever sees fractures to extremities as you usually call an ambulance (if you have to be scooped because you can't walk anymore) or go to A&E (ER in American English) if the fracture is not too serious. Ofcourse, if a fracture is open (with the bones sticking through soft tissue to the outside world) or complex, a transport by ambulance can be necessary even if it's 'just' your arm. Time is then of greatest essence.

[@arjanvandiggelen6792]

I have to be sick befor i got antibiotics. No f#cking sh#t 🤣🤣

[@danasuperstar]

"I've done the googling, that's why I'm here." - I think we can all relate.

[@Mhvn1987]

I don't relate at all. I am in no way qualified to diagnose my own symptoms. When something happens and I don't feel to good I just wait 3 days and if I still have issues then I call my GP.

[@danasuperstar]

Mark Haven It’s called humor.

[@Mhvn1987]

@@danasuperstar Good to know your humor is the standard. I don 't see how repeating a line from a video we all saw and making a universal comment is funny.

[@Wall3Wapter]

ppl tend to ignore the minor search results and to always focus on the worst result that came up. so they often conclude that it's cancer, heart dissease or whatever

[@xFD2x]

It might be the doctor looks up in what doses the medicine is available. Anyone thought of that one ?

[@banina1836]

The computer at the GP has the patient files, not google on it... ??

[@Leviwosc]

This video pushes all my buttons. Some of these folks apparently expect a trauma helicopter each time when they have the sniffles. Or pump you full with antibiotics. Forget it. It's not going to happen here. One should be very frugal with antibiotics. A Dutch general practitioner will not give you any if it's not necessary. A general practitioner will refer you to a medical specialist when there's a reason for it. Here in the Netherlands we do not consider it okay to waste a specialist's time with your stuffy ears or nose when a general practitioner can easily prescribe a simple treatment to help you out. Throwing around antibiotics as if it is candy is what one does in the USA. Doctors here have a whole lot more commons sense, luckily.

[@dumdebadaba]

My father wanted an appointment with the huisarts on a Friday. He didn't get it. He got a heart attack during the weekend. The ambulance came and before taking him, they called the huisarts. He was late, so we went to the hospital without him. Question: why is a huisarts necessary?

[@joosderuiter5913]

GPs are necessary because they are the first line of defense. A lot of minor ailments can be solved by them without having to bother specialists at a hospital with your toe fungus or common cold (which your body will cure by itself anyway...). They also serve as the doctor who knows you and all your issues the best, this steady person you can keep coming back to and who already knows your history. A hospital specialist cannot be that person for you. And of course huisartsen are only human, they take weekends off, that's why you have the huisartsenpost and the hospital and the ambulance, which worked exactly as intended for your father... I don't see what the problem is here.

[@jjc5475]

i'm dutch, my family often goes with indian students to the doctor because otherwise they don't get help. because they're not assertive enough. huge cultural barrier. really problematic...

[@wolfetone2012]

Does your family take them when it's clearly a common cold, or flu?

[@hermandirkdenboef2596]

The huisarts is something like a general practice doctor. You first report to the Huisarts. That appointment is free! He or she decides if it worthwhile to make huge costs and go to a hospital. essentially it is the gatekeeper to the healthcare system. So he or she has to know enough of everything but is no expert. When they decide you actually have something they will send you to the hospital. You always will be helped.

[@r3drum3k92]

My mother was very young when she had a heart attack on a friday evening. She explained the symptoms: heavy chest and back pain, shortness of breath etc.But instead of sending an ambulance directly she was told to take that bloody paracetamol and call back on monday by a temp who had replaced the dokter in the weekend shift'. Against the advise my father rushed her to the hospital. At the hospital her scans were diagnosed by someone who was also a temp and more mistakes were made resulting in a geriatric life at the age of 40. The mistakes were withheld until after some time another dokter brought this to our attention but my mother was just to weak to make a case of it and asked us to let it rest. So the dutch way.. not so great imo.

[@wereldvanriley7]

Wait a second. So your mother was diagnosed with a heart attack at a young age. I’m not getting most of this comment

[@assasain999]

Bro call 112 what the fuck did you call your doctor for? The ambulance would have come asap

[@OldHag]

Als ik kwam bij de dokter en hij wilde gif uitschrijven zei ik hem dat ik die troep niet bliefde, heb j niks anders? Ja drie weken rust houden - dat klinkt toch stukken beter!!

[@OP-1000]

Oh no, he had flu and stayed in bed for a whole four days 😱

[@lukasvandewiel860]

Imagine the horror that he had to go through the same thing that hundreds of millions of people casually go through every year.

[@n.norbertoperez6593]

I'm here for dutch people comments.

[@GuidoHaverkort]

why would you even want medicine for the cold? it's just a cold. Just stay home for a couple of day

[@spvdijk]

But that is no option for an American. It costs you the few vacation days you have.

[@jatinmaharao6888]

I had a bike accident when I was in the Netherlands and had to get a titanium screw inside my finger. The doctors didn't give me an antibiotic after the surgery because it was a clean surgery. All they gave me was some pain killers and paracetamol for the next 5 days but said that I should only take them beyond 2 days if I felt the need. Since I avoid unnecessary medication, only tool the paracetamol for 2 days as the pain wasn't much. Not unnecessary medication was prescribed. Thankfully my physician back in India also has a similar attitude. He once joked that cold takes 7 days to cure without medicines and one week with medicines.