Caretaker Dutch health minister still mulling policy options

Days into her new role, Dutch caretaker Health Minister Daniëlle Jansen is still to set concrete goals. She continues to be briefed on the full scope of her portfolio, a spokesperson for the minister told Euractiv.

After far-right PVV leader Geert Wilders pulled his ministers from the cabinet, leading to the collapse of Prime Minister Schoof’s government, the vacancy created by former minister Fleur Agema was filled by Jansen following an agreement reached by the remaining coalition parties.

Jansen, hailing from the centrist NSC party, has a PhD in Medical Sciences and was a researcher at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) before trading the lab for a seat in the Dutch Parliament.

“It’s too soon to tell [what Jansen hopes to achieve],” a spokesperson for the Minister told Euractiv. “She’s been in office for only a few days. She will gather her thoughts in the coming time, while being informed by our staff about all the policy topics she is responsible for.”

While Jansen, along with the caretaker government, will continue to lead the Netherlands until voters head to the polls this October, her powers are expected to be more limited than those of her predecessor. Because of the caretaker function of the government, MPs can declare some policy areas as “controversial”, which would then restrict the caretaker government from working extensively on them.

However, Jansen’s spokesperson told Euractiv none of the Health Ministry’s policy and law proposals have been labelled as ‘controversial’ by the Parliament so far.

During her first Council of Ministers meeting, Jansen said her top priority will be to conclude an agreement between the healthcare sector, municipalities and the government. Its aim is to improve care in the Netherlands and prepare it for the future. "I really want to achieve this, the entire field is waiting for it,” Jansen said.

Asked about the Minister’s plans to discuss EU-wide legislation, such as Europe’s new pharmaceutical package, with her counterparts, her spokesperson said these still remain to be seen.

An opposition MP in charge of healthcare had previously told Euractiv they expect the new minister to fully take part in any EU negotiations, given that international matters are not usually declared ‘controversial’ by Parliament.

[Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire]