A Portuguese delegation composed of students, managers, and healthcare professionals began a study visit to the Dutch healthcare system on Monday, 22 September. The initiative is organised by the National School of Public Health at NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA NSPH) and the Portuguese Association for Hospital Development (APDH), within the scope of the Specialisation Course in Hospital Administration (CEAH), with institutional support from the Portugal–Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and in partnership with the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH), the NOVA NSPH Student Association, and the NOVA NSPH Alumni Association.
The delegation comprises 35 participants, including students of the CEAH, hospital managers, administrators, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health economists, researchers, and other professionals involved in healthcare management. They represent a wide range of institutions, from local health units across Portugal to private hospitals, academic centres, and public organisations, reflecting the diversity and richness of the Portuguese healthcare sector.
Over the course of five days, the delegation will visit several cities in the Netherlands – Amsterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, and Nijkerk. Participants will have the opportunity to attend lectures, visit hospitals, meet with experts, and engage in joint reflection sessions.
The programme covers topics such as healthcare system financing and governance, integrated care, digital and technological innovation, sustainability, and long-term care. It offers an immersive experience combining practical learning, international networking, and comparison of best practices, contributing to the development of leaders capable of applying new knowledge to the Portuguese context.
First day of the visit
The first day of the visit took place at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where participants attended a lecture by Xander Koolman, Health Economics expert and lecturer at the School of Business and Economics.
In his presentation, Xander Koolman highlighted some of the most relevant characteristics and challenges of the Dutch healthcare system:
- A financing model that combines public and private insurance;
- The effects of demographic ageing and increasing life expectancy;
- The central role of pharmacies as an extension of primary healthcare;
- The importance of long-term care (LTC), especially in a context where more women participate in the workforce.
In the Netherlands, LTC accounts for around 4% of GDP, reflecting a robust, state-funded system with broad access to formal services. In Portugal, by contrast, the investment is below 1% of GDP, with strong reliance on informal care provided by families.
This difference is also linked to cultural aspects: only 16% of the Dutch population consider it the children’s duty to care for sick parents, compared to 79% in Portugal, where the expectation is that the family – particularly women caregivers – assumes this role.
Another point highlighted was the historically high prevalence of smoking among women in the Netherlands, especially since the second half of the 20th century. This trend is now reflected in higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as certain types of cancer, contributing to increased mortality.
The Portuguese delegation also had the opportunity to compare practices between the two countries, analysing issues such as:
- Duplication of coverage through different health subsystems;
- Waiting times in public services;
- The growing importance of digital and technological solutions in diagnostics and hospital management.
This study visit represents a unique opportunity for learning and reflection for CEAH participants and the entire delegation, reinforcing NOVA NSPH’s commitment to training leaders capable of understanding different healthcare systems and applying international best practices to the Portuguese context.
