Health-Holland

Healthcare system The success of the healthcare system in the Netherlands is underpinned by the tenets of access to care for everyone, solidarity through compulsory medical insurance and high-quality services. The fact that the country achieves high rankings for healthcare is partly due to this philosophy of cooperation and spirit of joint effort. The same applies to the Dutch Life Sciences & Health sector, which is characterised by collaboration and knowledge-sharing among companies and research institutions, with full government support. Dutch healthcare products, and services related to medical equipment, remote care and other areas are equally innovative, providing comprehensive ‘smart solutions’. The Dutch model, which leads to affordable and sustainable products and solutions, reflects its highly inter-disciplinary approach and high levels of expertise throughout the healthcare chain. From supply to demand The healthcare system in place in the Netherlands today is the result of various changes in recent years, which took the supply-driven system and made it demand- driven. The new Health Insurance Act, which entitles all Dutch residents to a comprehensive basic health insurance package, went into effect in 2006. This means that all legal residents are required to take out health insurance offered by 24 competitive private (mainly non-profit) health insurers. The basic package includes essential medical care and residents have the option to take out supplementary dental and Private individual/ Insured person Healthcare providers Health insurer Private individual/ Insured person Healthcare providers Health insurer other coverage. Meanwhile, under the Long- term Care Act, residents are legally insured against the risk of long-term care. Reduced red-tape Although the Dutch healthcare system is essentially a private system, the government maintains a controlling role in order to protect the public interest. The overhaul has led to various improvements that benefit patients, including more focus on effectiveness and quality, partly through selective contracting. In addition, waiting lists are shorter and red tape has been reduced. Patients have the freedom to switch healthcare insurers each year and can influence the policies of insurers and health providers. 48