The Alpha Klinik is an outpatient centre, specialising in knee problems and spinal conditions, and has 3 chief surgeons, 11 other physicians and approximately 120 medical and non-medical personnel.

Surgeon Willem Zeegers joined the Alpha Klinik after a 15-year career at the Sittard Hospital in the Netherlands. His appointment offered an excellent opportunity to generate free publicity for the private clinic, and as such a press trip to Munich was organised.

The carefully chosen message was: ‘Medicine without Frontiers’. KLM was prepared to sponsor the airline tickets, as they just had launched a new scheduled service from Maastricht to Munich.

Why was surgery performed by Dr. Zeegers covered by insurance in the Netherlands and not in Germany? To discuss this matter a panel discussion was organised; the panel comprised three surgeons, two lawyers, a health care insurer and a psychologist specialising in burnouts. Ton Planken, a former journalist, was invited to lead the discussion in Munich. Dutch ex-patients were present to share their experiences with the press.

A total of 15 journalists, radio, television and the press, accepted the invitation to Munich. Media coverage was extensive and the discussion relating to ‘ one medical care without frontiers’ has spearheaded an active debate amongst the sectors present.