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| Gay Pride boat parade passes off peacefully, despite weather |
8/5/2012 |
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Gay Pride boat parade passes off peacefully, despite weather
Saturday 04 August 2012
Some 100,000 people turned out to watch this year''s Gay Pride boat parade through Amsterdam on Saturday, Nos television reports.
In total, 80 boats took part in the traditional event, which this year had the theme On the Move. Among this year''s new participants was a boat carrying members of the Turkish gay and lesbian community.
Healthcare insurers unhappy with expensive medicines advice
Friday 03 August 2012
The healthcare insurers organisation ZN said on Friday expensive medicines for the rare diseases Pompe and Fabry must remain in the healthcare package.
The comment comes after the health insurance council CVZ advised the health minister that payments for expensive medicines for these two rare metabolic disorders should be scrapped.
The CVZ said that although the treatment does have an affect, the cost is too high in comparison with the results it delivers.
Complaint
The ZN has now written to the CVZ saying payments should continue and complaining that the advice gives the wrong impression that healthcare insurers are supportive. ''This is surprising, because healthcare insurers have never discussed the matter,'' says the ZN.
Organisations representing genetics experts, pediatricians and patients already called on health minister Edith Schippers not to act hastily on the advice.
Normally the ZN does not comment on advice on changes to the basic healthcare package but it is making an exception in this case, say press reports.
Complaints by migrant workers double in a year
Friday 03 August 2012
The number of complaints from migrant workers about their treatment has nearly doubled to 200 over the past year, according to figures from the legal labour association SKIA, quoted in the Volkskrant.
Most of the complaints are about exploitation and crowded housing conditions, with around 35% describing ''inhuman situations'', SKIA says.
The migrant workers association Migrada says it has seen a 40% rise over the year, most of which it blames on the anti-immigration PVV''s website for complaints about Poles.
The debate about migrant workers has been dominated in recent years by stories about exploitation, bad housing and low wages.
Earlier this year, a report by employers organisations said the greying population and looming shortage of good workers means the Netherlands must remain attractive to migrant labour.
© DutchNews.nl
Care home owners tell families they must help with patients
Thursday 02 August 2012
Care home owners Vierstroom on Thursday launched a pilot scheme aimed at getting the families of dementia patients more involved in their care.
Under the scheme, families will be told they must make themselves available for four hours each month. They will not be asked to wash or clean their family members, but are expected to take them for walks or spend time talking to them, reports the Nederlands Dagblad.
The scheme is being piloted in Bergambacht and Vlist.
Money
''The Netherlands must move away from the idea that the healthcare system solves every problem,'' Vierstroom director Jeroen van den Oever told the ND.
The state health insurance policy (awbz) does not have enough money to pay for healthcare workers to wash and feed patients and spend quality time with them, he said.
The national association of home carers says making people spend time with family members with dementia is not a good idea. ''Not everyone has time to help,'' a spokesman told the paper.
The ND does not say what sanctions are available for people who refuse to help.
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