Do Dutch dermatologists care for venereology? An inquiry among all non-academic dermatologists in The Netherlands

Abstract

The financing of STD outpatient clinics in The Netherlands is currently undergoing structural changes. Because these changes also have implications for the infrastructure of STD care as a whole, the STD committee of the Dutch Society for Dermatology and Venereology (STD committee NVDV) and the National Society of Municipal Health Services (GGD-Nederland) are currently exploring the possibilities and feasibility of intensified regional collaboration between Municipal Health Services (MHSs) and dermatologists. However, for fruitful collaboration it is essential that a substantial number of dermatologists has an interest in STD care. Therefore, the STD committee NVDV has conducted a structured survey in order to study the support of Dutch dermatologists for such a regional collaboration. In this paper, the results of the survey are presented. It appears that the majority of Dutch dermatologists is (still) interested in STD, and although a minority currently collaborates with local MHSs on a regular basis, a large group is willing to do so in the future. We conclude that the majority of dermatologists in the Netherlands (still) cares for venereology and that there is a sound basis for a fruitful cooperation with MHSs.