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DownloadCOUNTRY: The Netherlands
KNOWLEDGE BROKER: Ronald Batenburg, Programme Leader, Nivel, the Netherlands
SEPEN thanks the knowledge brokers for their contribution in checking and completing the country-information. SEPEN is accountable for the content of the country profiles.
| Type of information | Source | Year | Remarks |
| Table 1: Health workforce stock and replacement | OECD | 2018 | Age characteristics of the nursing stock are not reported. |
| Figure 1: Mobility level in absolute numbers | OECD | 2018 | Only immigration data for OECD countries are available. The data produced are therefore incomplete. Not all OECD-countries register the country of origin of incoming health professionals and some do not register incoming health professionals at all. Emigration data are based on immigration numbers in other OECD-countries, as emigration as such is not registered nor reported. |
| Figure 2a: Number of practicing physicians per 1000 inhabitants | Eurostat | 2018 | Figure 2a presents regional distribution of physicians. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020. |
| Figure 2b: Number of practicing nurses and midwives per 1000 inhabitants | Eurostat | 2013 | Figure 2b presents regional distrubution of nursing and midwifery. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020. |
| Statistic | Number | Data Year |
| Total population | 17 282 163 | 2019 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81,9 | 2018 |
Source: Eurostat
| Licensed to practice | Practising | Professionally active | |||||
| Statistic | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Number | Per 1000 inhabitants | Data year |
| Physicians | 77 835 | 4,54 | 61 368 | 3,58 | Not reported | Not reported | 2017 |
| > Generalist Medical Practitioner | Not reported | Not reported | 27 575 | 1,17 | Not reported | Not reported | 2017 |
| > Specialist Medical Practitioner | Not reported | Not reported | 33 793 | 1,97 | Not reported | Not reported | 2017 |
| Nurses | 201 150 | 11,74 | 186 370 | 10,88 | Not reported | Not reported | 2017 |
| Midwives | 4 295 | 0,25 | 3 995 | 0,23 | Not reported | Not reported | 2017 |
| Dentists | 9 710 | 0,57 | 8 635 | 0,50 | Not reported | Not reported | 2017 |
| Pharmacists | 5 175 | 0,30 | 3 578 | 0,21 | 4.948 | 0,29 | 2017 |
| Physiotherapists | Not reported | Not reported | 32 930 | 1,92 | Not reported | Not reported | 2017 |
Source: OECD
Not reported
| Name | Role | Website |
| BIG-register | Mandatory registration of professionals subject to Dutch disciplinary law.
● Licence to legally wear a protected professional title; ● Licence for doctors, dentists and midwives to carry out certain reserved procedures independently; ● Licence to practise health profession independently when having a foreign diploma; ● Licence to begin specialist training in a professional field; |
https://english.bigregister.nl/ |
| Statistics Netherlands | Statistics and data office | https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb |
| Onderzoeksprogramma Health en Welzijn (AZW) | Provides specific labour market surveys | https://www.azwinfo.nl/ |
| Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO, Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap) | DUO (Education Executive Agency)is the implementing organization of the national government for education. DUO finances and informs educational participants and educational institutions and organizes exams. | https://duo.nl/ |
| Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen (UWV) | UWV (Employee Insurance Agency) is an autonomous administrative authority (ZBO) and is commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) to implement employee insurances and provide labour market and data services. | https://www.uwv.nl/overuwv/english/about-us-executive-board-organization/detail/about-us |
| Registratiecommissie Geneeskundig Specialisten (RGS) | The Registration Committee for Medical Specialists periodically assesses whether doctors and study programs comply with the rules of the College Geneeskundige Specialismen. If a doctor meets the rules, he / she can register in a specialist- or profile doctors register. The doctor then has the right to use the relevant legal title. If trainers and training institutes meet the requirements imposed on them, they are recognized as such by the RGS. The registers are public. | https://www.knmg.nl/opleiding-herregistratie-carriere/rgs/over-de-rgs.htm |
| VEKTIS | Collects data from health insurance claims, such as health expenditures by age, region and gender.
VEKTIS provides healthcare insights and smart processes, making decision-making and implementation within the healthcare market effective and efficient. Bringing data and information together provides healthcare parties with a common source of information that is more powerful than a multitude of own sources of information |
https://www.vektis.nl/ |
| Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst (GGD) | Public Health Services (GGDen) for public health data | https://www.ggd.nl/ |
| Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) | National Institute for Public Health and the Environment for pblic health data | https://www.rivm.nl/en |
| NIVEL Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research | Family Doctors data | https://www.nivel.nl/en |
| Name | Role | Website |
| Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport | Co-decision on the budget provided to regional training policies | https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-health-welfare-and-sport |
| Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences | Co-decision on the budget provided to regional training policies | https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-education-culture-and-science |
| Health Care Inspectorate (IGZ) | Responsible for the monitoring and supervision of quality, safety and accessibility of healthcare, ensuring that the regulatory requirements are met in healthcare. IGZ is partially responsible for investigating any violation of patient rights. | https://english.igj.nl/ |
| Dutch Health Care Authority (NZa) | Responsible for the supervision of healthcare financing, as well as setting the rules for providers and insurers. NZa is also responsible for protecting the interests of citizens, ensuring service quality, and adequate accessibility to health services. | https://www.nza.nl/english |
| Advisory Committee on Medical Manpower Planning (Capaciteitsorgaan) | The ACMMP has been issuing recommendations
and forecasts on the desired intake in the various medical profile training programmes and in the postgraduate medical training programmes as well as the desired intake in the postgraduate dentistry programmes since 2000. In addition, the ACMMP issues a recommendation and a forecast on the intake deemed necessary in the initial degree programme in Medicine |
https://capaciteitsorgaan.nl/ |
| NIVEL Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research | NIVEL is responsible for some of data collection, the design and maintenance of demand-based planning and forecasting and planning for the Capaciteitsorgaan (capacity body). | https://www.nivel.nl/ |
| Provinces | Managing regional training activities and supporting regional healthcare organisations |
| Name | Role | Website |
| Koninklijke Nederlandsche Maatschappij tot bevordering der Geneeskunst (KNMG) | The Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG) is the professional organization for Dutch doctors. Its mission is to support Dutch doctors and health care. | https://www.knmg.nl/over-knmg/about-knmg/about-knmg.htm |
| Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap (NHG) | The Dutch College of General Practitioners is the scientific association of general practitioners (GPs) in the Netherlands. Its mission is to improve and support evidence-based general practice. | https://www.nhg.org/english/about-us |
| Landelijke Huisartsen Vereniging (LHV) | The Dutch National Association of General Practitioners (LHV). The LHV represents the interests of general practitioner care. | https://www.lhv.nl/vereniging/wat-doet-de-lhv%20 |
| Verpleegkundigen & Verzorgenden Nederland (V&VN) | The Dutch Nurses’ Association (V&VN) is the professional association of nurses and care staff in the Netherlands.The mission of V&VN is to enable professional groups to practice their profession with pride, passion and professionalism. | https://www.venvn.nl/over-v-vn/ |
| Name | Role | Website |
| Nivel- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research | Program Health care and manpower planning | https://www.nivel.nl/en |
| Prof. Dr. Ronald Batenburg | Professor in Health Workforce and Organisation Studies, Radboud University Nijmegen | https://www.ru.nl/english/people/batenburg-r/ |
| Original name | Juiste zorg juiste plek |
| Name in English | The right provision of care in the right place |
| Short description | The programme sponsors new organisation forms of healthcare in order to ensure that the patient receives healthcare closer to home. It aims to enhance the adoption of new technologies, new organisation of service provision, also involving self-care and social care to reach the objectives. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://www.zonmw.nl/nl/onderzoek-resultaten/geestelijke-gezondheid-ggz/programmas/programma-detail/juiste-zorg-op-de-juiste-plek/ |
| Original name | Werken in de zorg- Actieprogramma |
| Name in English | Working in healthcare- Action programme |
| Short description |
The programme is aiming to tackle health workforce shortages through a national and regional approach (e.g. regional action plans). It aims to strengthen existing initiatives and also establish new ones, improve stakeholder engagement, foster innovation, optimise educational and development programmes, and enhance knowledge transfer between the regions. An independent advisory committee is responsible for monitoring the progress and quality of regional plans and activities. The regions are responsible for identifying gaps and unmet needs, as well as implementing actions in order to tackle health workforce challenges. |
| Publication date | 13 March 2018 |
| Link to full text | https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/jaarplannen/2018/03/14/actieprogramma-werken-in-de-zorg/Actieprogramma-Werken-in-de-Zorg.pdf |
| Original name | Wijziging van de Wet op de beroepen in de individuele gezondheidszorg in verband met het opnemen van de physician assistant in de lijst van registerberoepen |
| Name in English | Amendment to the Individual Healthcare Professions Act in connection with the inclusion of the physician’s assistant in the list of registered professions |
| Short description | Statement from the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport on the inclusion of physician’s assistants and nursing specialist as registered professions, as well as granting independent authority to conduct certain activities. |
| Publication date | September 2018 |
| Link to full text | https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-29282-312.html |
| Original name | Commissie Werken in de Zorg |
| Name in English | Work in the healthcare commission |
| Short description | Regional independent commissions monitor progress and quality of the regional approaches to tackle the shiortages of health workforce. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://www.ontdekdezorg.nl/ |
| Original name | Raad voor de Volksgezondheid (2002). Taakherschikking in de gezondheidszorg. |
| Name in English | Council for Public Health and Health Care (RVZ) (2002). Task substitution in health care. |
| Short description | Advice to the government on task substitution. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://www.raadrvs.nl/binaries/raadrvs/documenten/publicaties/2003/01/13/taakherschikking-in-de-gezondheidszorg/Advies_-_Taakherschikking_in_de_gezondheidszorg.pdf |
| Original name | Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (2018). Werken in de zorg- Actieprogramma. |
| Name in English | Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (2018). Working in healthcare- Action programme. |
| Short description | Action plan to increase inflow in healthcare. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/jaarplannen/2018/03/14/actieprogramma-werken-in-de-zorg/Actieprogramma-Werken-in-de-Zorg.pdf |
| Original name | Meer tijd voor de patiënt |
| Name in English | More time for the patient |
| Short description | This programme is set up for General Practitioners in order to support the practices in reducing the workload, while increasing the quality and efficiency of health services. The website collects several pilots and good practices from the programme, such as:
|
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://meertijdvoordepatient.lhv.nl/ |
| Original name | Administratieve overeenkomsten die de groei van de gezondheidsuitgaven beheersen 2019-2022 |
| Name in English | Administrative agreements controlling the growth of health expenditure 2019 to 2022 |
| Short description | National agreements were introduced in order to control the health expenditure by setting the maximum volume of growth in primary care, specialty care, emergency care, and mental healthcare. The ceilings on expenditure are defined for the 2019-2022 period. |
| Publication date | 2018-2019 |
| Link to full text | Primary care, specialty care, emergency care, mental healthcare |
| Original name | Bestuurlijk akkoord medisch-specialistische zorg 2019 t/m 2022 |
| Name in English | Administrative agreement on medical specialist care 2019 to 2022 |
| Short description | Agreements between parties involved in specialist medical care about the desired developments for the period up to and including 2022. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/brieven/2018/06/04/bestuurlijk-akkoord-medisch-specialistische-zorg-2019-t-m-2022 |
| Original name | Bestuurlijke afspraken paramedische zorg 2019-2022 |
| Name in English | Administrative arrangements for paramedical care 2019-2022 |
| Short description | Agreements between parties involved in paramedical care about the desired developments for the period up to and including 2022. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/brieven/2019/06/20/bestuurlijke-afspraken-paramedische-zorg-2019-2022/bestuurlijke-afspraken-paramedische-zorg-2019-2022.pdf |
Not reported
| Original name | Art. 8 Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek 1993. |
| Name in English | Article 8 of the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act. |
| Short description | |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005682/2020-04-01 |
| Original name | Capaciteitsorgaan (2019). Capaciteitsplan 2021-2024; Hoofdrapport. |
| Name in English | Advisory Committee on Medical Manpower Planning (2019). Recommendations 2021-2024- Main report. |
| Short description | Report on the period 2021-2024. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://capaciteitsorgaan.nl/app/uploads/2020/02/2020_02_12-Capaciteitsplan-2021-2024-Hoofdrapport-DEFINITIEF-EN.pdf |
| Original name | Herregistreren |
| Name in English | Renewal of licences |
| Short description | In order to obtain the licence to practice, physicians have to meet renewal requirements and re-apply to the registries. Requirements are defined by the Medical Specialties Board (CGS) and approved by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport. The Registration Committee for Medical Specialists is responsible for supervising and assessing whether the renewal requirements are met. Physicians have to carry out certain accredited activities over a 5-year period, and also participate in performance and quality evaluations. |
| Publication date | N/A |
| Link to full text | https://www.knmg.nl/opleiding-herregistratie-carriere/herregistratie/herregistratie-eisen-1.htm |
| Original name | Art. 8, Wet BIG 1993 |
| Name in English | Article 8 of the Wet BIG 1993 |
| Short description | The article concerning CPD and re-registration is article 8 of the Wet BIG. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0006251/2019-04-02#HoofdstukII_Paragraaf1_Artikel8 |
Not reported
| Original name | Zelfsturende teams in de thuiszorg – Handleiding voor managers, projectleiders en bestuurders |
| Name in English | Self-steering teams in home care – Manual for managers, project leaders and administrators |
| Short description | A manual mainly for managers, project leaders and administrators of home care organisations to enhance the establishment of self-managing teams. Such initiatives have the potential to reduce the administrative burden and improve the working conditions in the health provision system. |
| Publication date | 2013 |
| Link to full text | https://www.zorgvoorbeter.nl/docs/PVZ/vindplaats/verbeteren%20doe%20je%20zo/zelfsturende-teams-thuiszorg.pdf |
| Original name | en Administratieve overeenkomsten |
| Name in English | Inclusion of physician’s assistants in the list of registered professions and Administrative agreement 2019-2022 |
| Short description | Introduction of supportive functions and roles, such as the physician’s assistants, aims to reduce the workload and improve the mental health of professionals. The National Health Care Institute (ZIN) has developed a quality framework to support the improvement in nursing home care quality.
The above mentioned administrative agreement (2019-2022) also outlines the importance of job security, decreasing workload, attractive working environment and career opportunities. |
| Publication date | 2018
2017 |
| Link to full text | Parliamentary document |
| Original name | Cao Ziekenhuizen 2019 – 2021 |
| Name in English | Cao Hospitals 2019 – 2021 |
| Short description | A collective labour agreement is drawn up between Dutch hospitals (so called CAO hospitals) which aims to ensure that organisations provide the same working conditions (e.g. overtime, allowances) for their employees. Members of the Dutch Hospitals Association are required to apply the collective labour agreement. The website of the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation collects the collective labor agreements for other types of service providers, such as GP services or mental health services. |
| Publication date | 2019 |
| Link to full text | https://cao-ziekenhuizen.nl/cao-ziekenhuizen-2019-2021 |
| Original name | In voor zorg! Zelfsturende teams in de thuiszorg. Handleiding voor managers, projectleiders en bestuurders. |
| Name in English | In for care! Self-steering teams in home care. Manual for managers, project leaders and administrators. |
| Short description | In for care! is a program of the Ministry of Health and Vilans, knowledge center for long-term care. The program offers organizations support in future-proofing and in achieving greater customer and demand orientation |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | http://www.invoorzorg.nl/ |
| Original name | Nivel (2016). Praktijkondersteuners (POH’s) in beeld: Aantallen, kenmerken en geografische spreiding in Nederland. Utrecht: Nivel. |
| Name in English | Nivel (2016). GP practice assistants (POHs) in the picture: Numbers, characteristics and geographical spread in the Netherlands. Utrecht: Nivel. |
| Short description | This report describes the results of a study into the labor market of practice assistants in GP practices, commissioned by the Ministry of Health. |
| Publication date | 2016 |
| Link to full text | https://www.nivel.nl/sites/default/files/bestanden/Rapport_analyse_arbeidsmarkt_POH.pdf |
| Original name | Zorginstituut Nederland (2017). Kwaliteitskader verpleeghuiszorg. |
| Name in english | National Healthcare Institute (2017). Quality framework for nursing home care. |
| Short description | The Quality framework for nursing home care describes what clients and their families can expect from nursing home care. In addition, it offers assignments for care providers and care organizations to jointly improve the quality of care and strengthen learning ability. |
| Publication date | 2017 |
| Link to full text | https://www.zorginstituutnederland.nl/binaries/zinl/documenten/publicatie/2017/01/13/kwaliteitskader-verpleeghuiszorg/Kwaliteitskader+Verpleeghuiszorg.pdf |
| Original name | Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport. Kamerstukken 35 300 XVI, nr. 150, resp. Kamerstukken 29 282, nr. 391 (Kamerbrief 1648590-201900-MEVA). |
| Name in English | Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Parliamentary documents 35 300 XVI, no. 150, resp. Parliamentary Papers 29 282, no. 391 (Letter to Parliament 1648590-201900-MEVA). |
| Short description | Letter to parliament about making the labor market more flexible in healthcare. |
| Publication date | |
| Link to full text | https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/rijksoverheid/documenten/kamerstukken/2020/02/10/kamerbrief-over-flexibilisering-arbeidsmarkt-in-de-zorg/kamerbrief-over-flexibilisering-arbeidsmarkt-in-de-zorg.pdf |
List of sources specific to this country:
Nivel (2016). Praktijkondersteuners (POH’s) in beeld: Aantallen, kenmerken en geografische spreiding in Nederland. [GP practice assistants (POHs) in the picture: Numbers, characteristics and geographical spread in the Netherlands]. Utrecht: Nivel.
https://www.nivel.nl/sites/default/files/bestanden/Rapport_analyse_arbeidsmarkt_POH.pdf
Last updated: 10 October 2020
The country fiches are produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in the country sheets are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study.
Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission’s/Executive Agency’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
This website was produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this website. Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission's / Executive Agency's behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.