Salaried specialists are mostly in pediatrics, rheumatology, and psychiatry as well as those in academic hospitals. Relatively few specialists have part-time private practice outside of the hospital. The fees for all specialists are negotiated nationally and there are no copayments required of sickness fund patients. Privately insured Dutch patients may have some copayments to make. Small copayments are now required of all patients for hospital services.
Hospitals are either non-profit or government owned.
Private, for-profit hospitals are not allowed in The Netherlands. As in most European countries there are waiting times for admission to hospitals for elective and nonemergency surgery and for nursing home admission. There is no waiting time for emergency hospital admissions. Medical facilities are widely available. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.