Dutch ministers Eelco Heinen (Finance) and Fleur Agema (Public Health) have reached a long-awaited agreement on investing in new technologies and AI in healthcare.
If healthcare costs remain below projections, Agema will be permitted to allocate €400 million annually over the next ten years towards AI, sources close to the government confirmed to NOS.
The funding will be drawn from the €2.3 billion reserve earmarked to absorb the expected rise in healthcare expenditure following the planned reduction of the healthcare deductible to €165 in 2027.
However, Finance Minister Heinen has insisted on a review after two years to determine whether the continued investment remains financially responsible. Agema is confident that the actual costs will be lower than forecast, leaving room for innovation investments.
The agreement follows months of political tension in the Netherlands between the two ministers, which reportedly culminated in Agema threatening to resign last week.
While Heinen originally wanted to commit the funding only for 2027 and 2028, Agema pushed for a structural commitment, arguing that the reserve fund is overly cautious.
Intensive negotiations took place on Monday and Tuesday, with Prime Minister Dick Schoof stepping in to help mediate. The breakthrough came late Tuesday evening, clearing the way for Agema to proceed with broader talks on a new healthcare agreement with hospitals and care institutions.
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