Covenant between gastroenterology and internal medicine in The Netherlands: a major step forward.

Abstract Recently, The Netherlands Society of Gastroenterohepatology (Nederlands Genootschap Maag-Darm-Leverartsen; NGMDL) and the Netherlands Association of Internal Medicine (Nederlandse Internisten Vereniging; NIV) set up a covenant to optimise the collaboration between internists and gastroenterologists. Important points: certification of endoscopic skills; training of residents of internal medicine with regard to pathology of the stomach, intestines and liver as well as to endoscopy, and the training in internal medicine of residents in gastroenterology; defining competence of gastroenterologists for night and weekend duties in internal medicine.