Welcome to the GP family practice of the International Health Centre The Hague. Our team of medically trained doctors assistants, nurse practitioners, POH-GGZ’s (psychologists) and doctors (general practitioners) are here to assist you with all aspects of your health care whilst in The Netherlands.
Call us on 070 306 5100 to schedule an appointment or speak to one of the doctor’s assistants. Phone lines are open on weekdays from 8:00 to 11:00 and from 11:30 to 16:00 for regular IHCH GP services and for acute life threatening emergencies from 08:00 till 17:00 under the emergency option. Please note that we are currently dealing with a large amount of phone calls. We apologize for any delay in service.
For medical questions and reliable medical advice you may find the following website useful: https://gpinfo.nl/
For urgent out-of-hours medical care during weekends, holidays or evening times, there is an emergency GP service available in each region of the Netherlands (Huisartsenpost in Dutch). For the Hague, this is the Hadoks Acute Zorg which can be reached by calling 070 346 96 69. Emergency out-of-hours appointments take place at HMC Westeinde, HMC Antoniushove or Haga Ziekenhuis.
You will need to be registered in our practice in order to receive medical care. Medical consultations are by appointment only. Please click here to register with us. After your registration, we may invite you for an intake. This is designed to acquaint you with our Centre and to discuss your medical history in order to assess your health and medical care needs.
In the Netherlands, General practitioners (GP)/family doctors (Huisarts in Dutch) make up the central part of the health system. For non-life threatening health or medical related concerns, you should always consult your GP first. Most medical issues can be treated directly by the GP. For medical specialist care, the GP will determine if a referral is needed to an appropriate specialist or hospital. For more information about the Dutch Healthcare system, click here. Note that if you have Dutch health insurance, a GP referral is required for specialist care, in order for your insurance to cover your specialist healthcare costs.
Home visits
If you are too ill or physically unable to come to the IHCH, arrangements can be made for a doctor to visit you at home*. This may be the case if you have a disability and are housebound. *For IHCH patients living more than 10km away from our Centre, unfortunately we are not able to provide home or emergency visits. For information about billing and reimbursement of our GP service click here.
General Practitioners
General practitioners in the Netherlands are proficient in many medical areas, including:
- Medical care of babies and children
- Gynaecological check-ups: pap smears, STD checks, etc.
- Placing and removal of intra-uterine devices (IUDs)
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs)
- Dermatological check-ups
- Minor operations under local anesthesia
- Wound care, including suturing or stitching
- Palliative care of terminally-ill patients (at home)
BOOKING APPOINTMENTS:
Depending on what your medical needs are, we can arrange for you to have additional time for your appointments if needed. We can book appointments for 5, 10 or 20 minutes depending on urgency, needs, whether it is a short follow-up, phone consultation or an emergency. Therefore it is important that you let us know what you are coming for and if you have more than one medical concern you’d like to address, so we can ensure you have enough time with the doctor.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS:
If you require a regular repeat prescription for a chronic medical condition you can request it online by clicking here. Within a few days you should receive a notification to let you know that your medication is ready for pick-up.
Note however that not all repeat prescription requests are granted, and some require a medical consultation. Examples include blood pressure, heart, or diabetes medication, as a yearly check up is required. Anti-depressants or anti-psychotic drugs may also warrant a prior appointment and antibiotics and antivirals cannot be prescribed without prior consultation with a doctor.
Doctor’s Assistants
Our doctor’s assistants are trained medical professionals that can perform triage and address certain medical needs. When making an appointment, the doctor’s assistant will ask several questions about your medical problem. By doing this, they can estimate the urgency of your medical needs, and how much time is needed for the appointment. The assistants are also educated to give you advice about your medical issue.
You can make an appointment with one of our doctor’s assistants for certain medical problems such as:
- Flushing the ear
- Wound dressing
- Removal of stitches
- Vaccinations
- Blood pressure measurement
- Cryotherapy for benign skin conditions (e.g. warts, fibromas etc)
After consulting one of the GP’s our doctor’s assistants can also perform:
- ECGs
- 24h blood pressure measurements
- Nebulization
- Infection parameters (e.g. CRP and Urine test)
Additional services
What Does a POH Somatiek Do?
As an expat in the Netherlands, understanding the Dutch healthcare system is key to taking control of your health. One important resource available to you is the POH Somatiek (Praktijkondersteuner Huisarts Somatiek), or Practice Nurse for Somatic Care. This healthcare professional plays a vital role in supporting patients with chronic conditions and preventive care, working alongside your general practitioner (GP) to ensure you receive the best possible care.
Here’s how a POH Somatiek can make a difference in your health journey:
- Expert Chronic Disease Management: The POH Somatiek specializes in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, and high blood pressure. They monitor your health, provide tailored advice, and help ensure you stay on track with your treatment plan.
- Proactive Health and Prevention: Whether you want to improve your overall health or prevent future issues, the POH Somatiek offers personalized guidance on diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and preventive screenings. They are your partner in proactive health management.
- Seamless Coordination with Specialists: While your GP is your primary healthcare provider, the POH Somatiek can coordinate with other specialists to ensure comprehensive care, making sure you get the treatment you need when you need it.
- Continuous Follow-Up Care: After an illness or treatment, the POH Somatiek ensures your recovery is on track. They provide follow-up appointments to monitor progress and adjust treatments as necessary, keeping your health under control.
- Personalized Health Plans: The POH Somatiek works with you to create a health plan tailored to your unique medical history, current health status, and lifestyle. They ensure that your approach to health is both effective and sustainable.
For expats, the POH Somatiek is an invaluable resource, helping you navigate the Dutch healthcare system and providing the support you need to maintain optimal health. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition or focusing on prevention, the POH Somatiek is your partner in achieving long-term wellness.
In short, a POH Somatiek is more than just a healthcare professional – they are a vital part of your healthcare team, offering expert support and guidance to help you live a healthier life. If you need assistance with chronic conditions or preventive care, don’t hesitate to contact your GP’s office and ask about the POH Somatiek.
Other Services:
- Lifestyle, obesity and nutrition consultations: Our specialist GP offers a multidisciplinary clinic together with a physiotherapist, psychologist and dietician in order to obtain the best results
- Psychological support: POH-GGZ’s (psychologists) work in the GP practice to support patients with mental health concerns
- Abdominal ultrasounds: Among our team we have a specialist GP that performs abdominal ultrasounds if medically indicated
- Diabetes & Cardiovascular clinics: The GP practice is also made up of specialized cardiovascular and diabetes nurses that help care for patients with hypertension, (pre)diabetes type 1 and type 2, high cholesterol, overweight conditions and cardiovascular risk factors. They work together with GP’s and internal medicine specialists.