Your general practitioner does not issue a medical certificate.

Your general practitioner (huisarts) has told you that he or she is not allowed to issue a 'medical certificate' (also called a doctor's note). That is correct. In doing so, your general practitioner has followed the rules drawn up by the KNMG, the professional organization for doctors.

Why is your general practitioner not allowed to issue a 'medical certificate'?
A medical certificate is a written statement that contains a judgment about you as a patient and your (medical) fitness or unfitness to do or not do certain things. Examples are: being able to work, drive a car, go to school, take good care of the children, travel, or being entitled to a parking permit or adapted housing.

Only by an independent general practitioner
Such medical certificates may only be issued by an independent general practitioner, so not your 'own' GP. An independent GP can make his or her own assessment of your situation. If you give permission, that GP can also request extra information from the general practitioner(s) treating you.

What is the reason for this?
The general practitioner who treats you must be able to concentrate on your treatment. A good relationship of trust with you is important for that. This relationship of trust can be put at risk when the general practitioner who treats you gives a judgment that is unfavorable for you. A conflict between you and your general practitioner because of this must be prevented. That is why there has to be a clear line between the treatment and the assessment of whether you qualify for certain provisions. This way, nothing stands in the way of giving your general practitioner all the information that is necessary for your treatment.

It is also important for you that the assessment is done by a general practitioner who knows the specific requirements for granting the provision you are applying for. Your own GP does not have all the knowledge about this. This also makes it impossible for your own GP to give a good judgment.

What can you do to get a medical certificate?

1. You can ask the organization that requests the medical certificate whether it is enough if you provide a statement about your state of health yourself, possibly in the form of a questionnaire that you fill in yourself;
2. You can ask the general practitioner who treats you for a copy of the part of your medical record that states certain important facts about your state of health. For example the result of a walking test, the result of an eyesight measurement, etc. You can then send these to the organization that asks for a medical certificate;
3. For the necessary assessment, you can turn to a general practitioner with expertise in the matter who is not treating you. This GP can also request factual information about your state of health from the GP who treats you and use this information in the assessment. This is only allowed if you give permission for it.
4. You can ask the organization that requires a medical certificate from you whether they can arrange an independent general practitioner for you.

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Source: KNMG