Challenges for the netherlands armed forces and the implications for military healthcare Van der Meer
1. 29-10-2010
Netherlands Ministry of Defence
Office of the Surgeon General
BG Rob van der Meer
Surgeon General
Introduction in
NLD Armed Forces &
Military Healthcare
Key-note address for the 2010
Australian Military Medicine
Association & Joint Health
Command Symposium
2. Ministry of Defence2
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Outline
•Introduction NLD Armed Forces
•Introduction NLD Military Healthcare
•Personal experience as Commander NLD Forces
Afghanistan no. 15
3. Ministry of Defence3
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Introduction NLD Armed forces
• Steering principles
– Division of policy, operational command and
support
– Strengthening operational focus
– Centralization of policy making
› Prevention of overlapping processes
› New policies have to be realistic and workable
• Challenges
– New government – new major reductions
– No ‘ice cube shaving’ as solution
– Concentrating support services to shared services
4. Ministry of Defence4
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
CHOD General Peter van Uhm
HighestmilitaryadvisortoMinister
Corporateplanner(plans&req.)
Corporateoperator(execution)
Commander(provider)
5. Ministry of Defence5
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Total strength NLD Armed Forces
• Army: 2 x Mech Bde, 1 x Air Manoeuvre Bde
• Air Force: 87 x F-16 (Fighting Falcon), 4 x C-130
(Hercules), 2x KDC-10, 2 x Dornier 228, 1 x DC-10, 1 x
Gulfstream IV,
29 x AH 64 D (Apache), 21 Lynx*, 17 X Cougar MKII, 11 x
CH 47 D (Chinook), 4 x Alouettte III, 3 x AB-412*, 500
hrs C-17 Globemaster III, 2 x Sqr PATRIOT
• Navy: 4x Air Defence and Command frigate, 2 x
Multipurpose frigate, 2 x Landing Platform Dock, 2 x
Supply Ship, 4 x Submarine, 4 x Oceangoing Patrol
Vessel**, 1 x Joint Support Ship*** 10x Minehunter, 1 x
Torpedo Support Ship, 2 x Hydrographic Survey Vessel, 5
x Diving Vessel, 2 x Marine Bn
• Military Police * to be replaced by 20 x NH-90
** ready in 2010-2012
*** ready in 2014
6. Ministry of Defence6
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
World Wide Contributions
TOTALTOTAL aprox 2200aprox 2200
IRAQIRAQ
NTMNTM--II
MIDDLEMIDDLE--EASTEAST
UNTSOUNTSO
EUBAM RafahEUBAM Rafah
UNIFILUNIFIL
USSC DaytonUSSC Dayton
AfghanistanAfghanistan
ISAFISAF
EUPOLEUPOL
NTMNTM--AA
EGF Mazar e SharifEGF Mazar e SharifD.R. OF CONGOD.R. OF CONGO
EUSECEUSEC
EUSEC FINEUSEC FIN
EUPOLEUPOL
BALKANS (EU & NATO)BALKANS (EU & NATO)
EUFOREUFOR EUMMEUMM
EUPMEUPM
KFORKFOR
NHQNHQ
SUDANSUDAN
UNMISUNMIS
UNAMID?UNAMID?
BURUNDIBURUNDI
SSRSSR
BINUBBINUB
Anti Piracy Ops SomaliaAnti Piracy Ops Somalia
Ocean Shield / AtalantaOcean Shield / Atalanta
7. Ministry of Defence7
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
The military healthcare supports the Netherlands Armed
Forces with healthy soldiers ready for duty.
The military healthcare guards, promotes and reinforces
the health state of soldiers and units.
The military healthcare is given in a continuum and in a
coherence manner supporting soldiers to execute the
operational tasks without any restriction.
Mission Military Healthcare
There is no actual division between ‘regular’
and operational tasks
9. Ministry of Defence9
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Overview medical structures
Foundation Operational
Air Force and Navy almost fully
integrated homeland and
operational medical personnel
and units
Army large dedicated
operational medical capacity
Joint medical service homeland
capacity (HCAG) in support of
Operational Commands with
focus on operational healthcare
ROLE 1:Army, Navy, Air Force
ROLE 2:Army: LM&E
Navy: LM & Afloat
supported by HCAG
ROLE 3:Army, supported by
HCAG
Aeromedical Evacuation:
Air Force: Fwd, Tact &
Strat, if necessary
supported by HCAG
10. Ministry of Defence10
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Healthcare Agency Group
Commander
HCAG
Central
Military
Hospital
Military
Rehabilitation
Centre
Joint Institute
for Military
Medical
Education
Military
Medical
Logistics
Centre
Chief of Staff Staff
Military
Blood Bank
Special
Medical
Assessments
Organization
Defence
Occupational
Health
and Safety
Services
Military
Mental Health
Care Unit
Defence and
Partnership
Hospitals
Institute
Military Health
Care
Expertise
Coordination
Centre
Joint since 02-09-1996
11. Ministry of Defence11
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Future vision on military health care
New government – new ‘White Paper’ for Defence with major
reductions & major reductions for civilian healthcare
Reason to change for military healthcare:
•Use the time of major changes!
• Improving operational toolbox: lighter and more flexible
• Improving individual medical qualities & trauma capabilities
• New health demands
• External developments
12. Ministry of Defence12
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Tentative developments health services
• Centralizing role 1 & health centres
•Connection role 1 units with operational
commands stay in place
•Regionalising health centre's
•Increasing organisational flexibility
• Role 2/3 joint
• Centralizing dentist organization
• New numbers operational assets
• Sourcing is opportunity, broadening
of civil alliances
• Joint HR-policy medical jobs,
personnel and education
13. Ministry of Defence13
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Personal experience as Commander NLD Forces
Afghanistan (COM NLD FOR AFG) no. 15
• Tasks CMDR NLD FOR AFG
– Eyes & ears of the CHOD
– RCH – Red Card Holder
– VIP-visits
– Other tasks by CHOD and
Dir OPS
– Dutch Senior in Mission Area
14. Ministry of Defence14
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Position of CMDR NLD FOR AFG
• No command authority
• No operational interference
• Information backdraw
• Active networking
NLD legislation
• ‘Warningshots’
• Partnering
• Person-protection / body-guard
• Combatbadge
15. Ministry of Defence15
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
Military healthcare
• By order CHOD
• National healthcare system in place
• NTM-A
• Visits to several facilities
• Visit to PRT Herat
27. Ministry of Defence27
Introduction in NLD Mil. Healthcare 29-10-2010
CONCLUSION
This presentation presented a introductory
overview of the Netherlands military (healthcare)
system on capabilities and providing health care
to the soldier. Also a personal experience about
Afghanistan
