October 12, 2026 — Two-thirds of women in the Netherlands say they do not always feel heard by healthcare professionals when describing symptoms, requesting referrals, or discussing various treatment options, according to a striking new report published by the polling company Kieskompas. The findings, which paint a concerning picture of gender disparities within the Dutch medical system, were officially delivered to members of parliament on Monday.
The nationwide study draws from a comprehensive survey of 14,000 women aged 16 and older across the country. Its conclusions highlight a profound disconnect between female patients and the medical establishment, with only one in five women surveyed stating that healthcare professionals listen well to women.
According to the data, dissatisfaction is particularly acute among specific demographics. Women aged 25 to 54, as well as those suffering from unexplained symptoms, were found to be the most likely to report feeling misunderstood or dismissed by medical consultants. Furthermore, the survey revealed that fewer than half of all women living with a chronic condition or disability felt that the medical care they received helped them sufficiently.
The Kieskompas report also shed light on a broader informational gap regarding gender-specific health topics. Women surveyed indicated that they felt significantly less well-informed about health issues that exclusively affect women—such as the menopause—compared to general health matters. Women across all age groups expressed a strong desire for more accessible information and called for expanded scientific research dedicated to female-centric health conditions.
This sentiment was echoed by ZonMw, a prominent Dutch health research funding body that helped back the report. According to ZonMw, younger demographics, including teenage girls, have expressed a clear need to better understand how hormonal fluctuations can directly impact mental health and daily well-being.
The societal impact of these medical blind spots extends far beyond the doctor’s office and deeply into the professional sphere. Nearly two in three women surveyed stated they did not feel comfortable discussing health-related problems in the workplace. Among women who are currently managing health problems, 63% reported that these issues have negatively affected their professional lives, primarily manifesting as chronic stress and decreased productivity. Most alarmingly, more than a quarter of these women noted that their health struggles forced them to stop working earlier than originally planned.
The release of the Kieskompas data coincided with a second major report presented on Monday, which analyzed the harrowing experiences of women who have become trapped in the healthcare system due to long-term, unexplained physical symptoms. This qualitative analysis was carried out by the health research institute Nivel on behalf of the Voices for Women foundation. While the researchers noted that the findings were based on voluntary submissions and surveys from women sharing their personal accounts and were therefore not statistically representative, the recurring themes were stark.
A profound lack of recognition and validation emerged in almost every single account analyzed by Nivel, according to reporting by the Dutch news agency ANP. Only one in four women involved in this secondary analysis reported feeling genuinely heard by their care provider. Compounding this, figures highlighted by ZonMw revealed that nearly 90% of these women did not feel taken seriously by the medical professionals they consulted. Perhaps most concerningly, 65% of the respondents stated that they frequently received a psychological diagnosis when they initially sought help for a physical complaint.
Together, the publication of these two comprehensive analyses has intensified mounting pressure on lawmakers and health institutions to reform how women’s health is approached in the Netherlands.
"The two new reports underline the urgency of the message ZonMw and others have been spreading for some time: more attention for women’s health is needed," ZonMw stated in an official press release responding to the findings. With the reports now formally in the hands of members of parliament, advocates hope the data will serve as a catalyst for systemic change, improved medical training, and a fundamental shift in how female patients are listened to and treated within the Dutch healthcare system.
