The merger between ZNA and GZA hospitals to form Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom (ZAS) has been postponed for the third time. ATV reports this. There should be more clarity by the summer holidays, but the hospital unions have a gloomy view of the discussions and wonder whether the merger will still happen.
The non-profit organizations behind the Antwerp hospitals ZNA and GZA want to merge into the non-profit organization Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom (ZAS). By joining together, they want to offer better basic care and highly specialized care close to home. The two groups have been working closely together for six years and the merger should make that cooperation even closer, but the operation is not going smoothly. The merger has already been postponed for the third time. This also happened in January and February because, among other things, there was no agreement with the doctors on a financial arrangement.
READ ALSO. Merger between ZNA and GZA postponed again: no agreement yet with doctors on financial arrangement
“This causes uncertainties and frustrations. People wonder whether that merger will still happen,” says Koen Van den Heuvel of the ABVV – BBTK to ATV. “We try to remain hopeful, because steps are being taken. But this is the third time that the merger has been postponed and there is no certainty whether there will be an agreement between the doctors and the Belgian competition authorities in July. As long as the agreements are not there, everything will remain unchanged.”
Competent councilor Els van Doesburg says he is waiting for the green light from the Belgian competition authorities. There should be more clarity by the summer holidays.
Tags: Major Antwerp hospital merger postponed time certainty agreement reached July Antwerp
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