Healthcare providers who work intensively with corona patients themselves run an increased risk of infection with the COVID-19 virus. Two Utrecht doctors have set up a support fund for this group. This fund must guarantee compensation for care staff who become incapacitated for work or for surviving relatives if a doctor or nurse even dies.
The fund is part of the newly established Care after Work In Corona Care Foundation (ZWIC). The idea arose after the first operation of a corona patient by orthopedic surgeon Sander Muijs of the UMC Utrecht.
Afterwards, he spoke to his colleague Marijn Houwert and shared his concerns whether the Netherlands is taking good care of the professionals involved who are active in the front line. The result was a joint blog in Medical Contact.
Hundreds of responses from all over the country followed, and surgeons decided in early March to set up the support fund.
The hope is that government and companies will contribute to the fund
ZWIC Foundation asks the government, organizations, companies and citizens to contribute to the support fund so that (family members of) physician assistants and nurses can call on it if necessary.
The first money has now been received and support in other forms has also been promised. The plan is to pay tens of thousands of euros to care providers who become incapacitated for work or the next of kin in the event of death.
Care union NU ’91 has joined the initiative. The organization is lobbying the cabinet to create a good compensation scheme for (surviving relatives of) healthcare staff.
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