Young doctors are abandoning the exhaustion of hospitals and turning to 9 to 5 office jobs.
An increasing number of young doctors are leaving long hours in hospitals and choosing to work as corporate physicians, driven by their desire for regular hours and a better work-life balance.
Data released by Capaciteitsorgaan (the Medical Capacity Planning Authority) shows a significant increase in the number of entrants in this field, with the number jumping from just 20 doctors in 2014 to 140 doctors in 2024.
Friso Montijn, the head of the Jonge Bedrijfsartsen (Young Company Doctors) organization, explained in an interview with NOS (Dutch Broadcasting Corporation) that many medical students start their training aspiring to work in hospitals, but they change their minds later. He described this shift as a generational change, where young doctors see that life is not just about work.
This trend is not limited to new graduates, as about 30% of new doctors in this field come from other specialties such as family medicine or working in hospitals. Boyd Tisens from NVAB (the Dutch Association of Occupational Medicine) confirmed that the image of the company doctor has changed, and they are now seen as an independent entity capable of improving working conditions.
The irregular shift system and long working hours in hospitals are among the main reasons for this shift. A company doctor enjoys more time for each patient and usually finishes their workday at 5 PM, giving them a stability that many hospital doctors lack.
A study conducted in 2021 revealed that a quarter of the trainee doctors aiming to become specialists considered leaving the profession, while about 8% actually left, often after many years of hard training. In the coming years between 2027 and 2030, Capaciteitsorgaan expects an increasing need for students in all medical specialties, especially in geriatric medicine, social medicine, and the fields of medical assistants and practicing nurses.