Dutch lawmakers raise alarm over closures of pediatric care villas owned by B. Braun

Dutch lawmakers voiced urgent concern over the planned closure of four specialized care villas for children, owned by German multinational B. Braun, a move that reportedly threatens care for 80 medically vulnerable patients.

The facilities in Waalre, Rijswijk, Wezep, and Vleuten provide highly specialized short-term stays, ranging from a single day to several nights.

During an emergency debate, Health Minister Mirjam Sterk said ExpertCare’s management had assured her that staffing at the villas would be in place through at least June 30. However, GroenLinks-PvdA lawmaker Lisa Westerveld said parents received an email Thursday stating it was unclear whether the villas would remain open in May.

Sterk said she had not seen the message and was surprised by its contents. She said she would discuss it with ExpertCare’s leadership next week. Westerveld said that the timeline is too slow.

ChristenUnie lawmaker Mirjam Bikker accused the company of presenting a misleading picture, saying it offers reassurances that do not match reality. Sterk agreed, adding that this is not how vulnerable children should be treated, though the issue will be examined further later.

Bikker added that B. Braun’s actions show the kind of harm an owner can cause. SP lawmaker Sarah Dobbe questioned whether B. Braun can be held accountable, asking what such a multinational is doing in the Dutch health care system if it cannot be held responsible. Lawmakers from GroenLinks-PvdA, JA21, and PVV expressed similar concerns.

All parties concurred that immediate action is necessary to ensure continued care, whether by transferring ownership of the villas or relocating patients to other facilities. A broad parliamentary majority said Sterk must take responsibility for securing a solution.