The role of anesthesiology in the health care system of The Netherlands

With the initiation of regular anesthesia services in the Netherlands in 1947, anesthesiology has grown to a large and influential profession, including intensive care, resuscitation, pain therapy, and emergency medical care. Pre- and postgraduate training programs are formalized and compete with some of the best in the world. After a long struggle, anesthesiology's social and legal status now compares with all other medical sciences. Anesthesia is restricted to medical specialists, but with the permanent support of fully trained and qualified nurses. Anesthesia in the Netherlands is a "two person" job.