{"id":1997,"date":"2024-11-20T17:09:19","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T16:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transineigenhand.nl\/call-for-the-establishment-of-a-low-threshold-ggd-transgender-healthcare-clinic-in-rotterdam-an-urgent-necessity\/"},"modified":"2026-10-12T21:23:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T19:23:30","slug":"call-for-the-establishment-of-a-low-threshold-ggd-transgender-healthcare-clinic-in-rotterdam-an-urgent-necessity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transineigenhand.nl\/en\/call-for-the-establishment-of-a-low-threshold-ggd-transgender-healthcare-clinic-in-rotterdam-an-urgent-necessity\/","title":{"rendered":"Call for the establishment of a low-threshold GGD Transgender Healthcare Clinic in Rotterdam: An urgent necessity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear Board of GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond and the City of Rotterdam,<\/span><\/p>\n

With this manifesto, we call upon GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond to establish a low-threshold transgender healthcare clinic. Waiting times in existing care are too long, and for many transgender people\u2014especially the most vulnerable\u2014access to necessary care remains out of reach. We want everyone in Rotterdam to have access to appropriate care without barriers or exclusion, just as they do in Amsterdam and Utrecht.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The right to health and equality<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Gender-affirming hormone therapy is essential for the well-being of trans people and prevents serious issues such as depression and suicidal thoughts. Research shows that transgender individuals in the Netherlands are 5 to 10 times more likely to attempt suicide than the rest of the population, and 70% of transgender adults have considered suicide at some point. Transgender individuals are four times more likely than cisgender individuals to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual abuse, and aggravated or simple assault. Currently, with years-long waiting lists, transgender care is inaccessible to almost all trans people, but particularly to vulnerable groups. This is a public health crisis. The GGD has a responsibility to respond to this by providing low-threshold care for vulnerable groups, regardless of their status or insurance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The social importance of a trans clinic<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A trans clinic would not only save individual lives but also benefit society as a whole through early intervention and preventive care. In Amsterdam and Utrecht, we see how these clinics provide effective, low-threshold preventive care and help prevent serious health problems. Preventive care not only saves costs in the long run but also reduces pressure on other healthcare providers by decreasing emergency room visits and providing better monitoring for people with complex care needs who are currently off the radar.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Focus on vulnerable groups<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The new clinic must provide a safe haven for trans people who do not have access to regular care, such as undocumented individuals, sex workers, and people without insurance. By offering them a respectful and accessible place, the GGD helps them not only with hormone care but also with other preventive services that benefit their health and safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The role of the GGD in transgender care<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The GGD's task is to contribute to a healthy society. Offering hormone care and other forms of transgender care falls within this mission and fits the GGD's responsibility to provide preventive care to everyone in society. This is not just about medical care, but about providing a foundation for mental and social safety, which often remains out of reach for trans people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hormone care is inextricably linked to sexual health and well-being. Transgender care involves much more than medical support; it also touches on intimacy, relationships, and the ability to express oneself safely and healthily. This is essential work for the GGD and fits within the broader framework of public health. With a trans clinic, GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond can play a leading role in providing low-threshold care to a group that often remains invisible in the current healthcare system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Failing to provide transgender care carries significant risks. Many people without access to regular transgender care feel forced to obtain hormones illegally, which can have consequences for both sexual health and physical safety when someone is not properly informed. Illegally obtained hormones are often unregulated and may contain harmful substances, or they may not be available on a regular basis. A lack of medical supervision increases the risk of serious side effects, which can lead to health problems that are difficult and costly to treat in the long term. Safe, legitimate access to hormone care would drastically reduce these risks and allow healthcare providers to offer structured guidance and monitor other aspects of their health. Preventive care that goes beyond just hormone treatment\u2014such as screening for sexually transmitted infections, mental health care, and other preventive support\u2014can improve overall well-being and prevent expensive acute care in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The benefits of a Rotterdam Trans Clinic<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The demand for hormone care is high, and this care is not always accessible to people who do not have a regular GP or who cannot get insurance due to their work or residency status. The trans clinics in Amsterdam and Utrecht show that a model for a low-threshold, specialized care facility has the potential to adequately handle hormone care, while also having a significant positive impact on the health of vulnerable groups; however, more capacity is needed. Through early intervention and tailored care, complications that lead to much higher costs later can be prevented\u2014for example, the Utrecht Trans Clinic saves lives with less than \u20ac100,000 per year. <\/span><\/p>\n

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For me, the Trans Clinic Utrecht started as a collective dream and a proposal on paper\u2014a perfectly logical project to efficiently tackle the disastrous inaccessibility and shortage of transgender care in the Netherlands. Yet, as an expert by experience and community manager, I have been surprised by how many different roles the clinic fulfills after its first year, despite limited resources. <\/span><\/p>\n

In a short time, the willingness of trans people and healthcare providers to join forces has led to the development of approaches where mutual respect and solution-oriented collaboration are central. In addition to providing crucial care for individuals who would otherwise be left to their own devices, our clinic offers a platform for trans people and various professionals to exchange knowledge about the influence of gender norms on access to care and to enter into strategic partnerships. <\/span><\/p>\n

By focusing on vulnerable groups of trans people, we can see across different fields which obstacles are unnecessarily maintained in care provision for refugees and sex workers, for example. Vulnerable trans people are often isolated, but they are actually part of all layers and groups within Dutch society. The state of transgender care therefore mirrors the opportunities that exist to introduce improvements for all these groups, enhancing the effectiveness and dignity of the provider-recipient relationship. <\/span><\/p>\n

What we lack is more capacity\u2014a clinic in Rotterdam would also be a huge asset for us in Utrecht. Just as we have learned from the Trans United clinic in Amsterdam, we hope to be a support point for a clinic in Rotterdam as well.<\/span>
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Tarim Nduma Flach, community manager Trans Clinic Utrecht<\/span><\/em>
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We call on GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond to show leadership and stop abandoning the trans community in Rotterdam. By establishing a trans clinic, you can make a structural contribution to the health and well-being of a group that currently often remains invisible. Together, we can create a Rotterdam where every person, regardless of background or identity, receives the care and support they need.<\/span><\/p>\n

This manifesto is signed by:
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