The GP business chain Co-Med has been declared bankrupt. The Maastricht Court declared bankruptcy today. This specifically concerns Co-Med’s subsidiary Zorg BV, through which the practices were managed. The holding company has not been declared bankrupt.

The chain announced last Sunday that the company itself was going bankrupt. A week earlier, the health insurance company had ripped up its contract with Co-Med. As a result, the chain, which has 10 practices across the country, is no longer getting paid.

Since then, Co-Med practices have been closed “until further notice”. Currently, overburdened GPs close to these practices are already stepping in to provide essential care to affected patients. Insurers are looking for new permanent GPs, but in many cases this will not be available until the autumn.

Two trustees have been appointed to handle the bankruptcy. Their spokesperson says they will hold discussions with health insurers, regulators and Co-Med’s director in the coming days.

The health insurance company CZ, which speaks on behalf of all insurers, says the bankruptcy has no consequences for patients, as they have already been given a temporary replacement GP. CZ will see if the sites and healthcare workers now freed up due to the bankruptcy can help find a structural solution.

Co-Med has been under fire for a long time. The Health and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) has previously said patients face “significant risks” because access and emergency care are substandard.

Staffing levels in practices are also not well regulated. Sometimes there are no doctors or not enough of them. This has been a reason for insurance companies to terminate the contract.

The decision “pushed Co-Med into the abyss,” the healthcare chain’s lawyer said earlier. “It directly led to widespread employee sick reporting and a loss of trust among freelancers. It was the death knell.”

Last week, the inspection ordered Co-Med to hand over patient files to alternative GPs. According to the chain, this was not possible because there were too few staff to transfer the files. According to Co-Med, not all patients had given permission to have the files inspected.

According to the inspection, this is not true and the files can simply be transferred. The inspection body itself has appointed specialists to deliver the files. Incoming mail, such as laboratory results, is now being processed.