Netherlands

In July 2026, the Dutch government allocated €102.5 million to strengthen the national MedTech ecosystem. The initiative responds to the MedTech Growth Plan and aims to address healthcare workforce shortages and rising demand for care by supporting innovation, implementation, and closer cooperation among industry, healthcare providers, and research institutions.

As of June 2026, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) initiated assessments of spinal cord stimulation for chronic back and leg pain and of a bihormonal artificial pancreas for patients with type 1 diabetes.

In May 2026, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development, ZonMw, opened applications for the subsidy round “Paving the way for appropriate care” under the Appropriate Care Framework program. The round supports projects that prepare existing, demonstrably effective interventions covered by the Health Insurance Act for sustainable implementation. The application deadline for the subsidy round is September 1, 2026.

On May 1, 2026, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the first release of the 2027 DRG package (RZ27a). Seven new procedure codes, one new diagnosis code, two new supplementary payments (OZPs), and 23 DRGs will be implemented across multiple fields, including gastrointestinal, gynecology, pulmonology, men’s health, and in-vitro diagnostics (pathology).

As of April 2026, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) is working on coverage positions in several areas, including otorhinolaryngology, dentistry, vascular interventional radiology, and gastroenterology fields.

In March 2026, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published regulations on the budgetary funding for emergency care. The final financial result is determined by the revenue from the provisional budget (set in advance) and the final budget (determined after the end of the year). A new supplementary payment with a fixed, provider-specific tariff will be introduced for the billing and calculation of budgets of ER departments. The regulations enter into force on July 1, 2026.

In January 2026, nine new topics were added to the Implementation Agenda of the Care Evaluation and Appropriate Use (ZE&GG) program, requiring healthcare providers to implement these evidence-based practices in daily care and to demonstrate results within two years. The topics concerned the in-vitro diagnostic, gastrointestinal, and ENT fields. Additionally, 16 topics were removed from the agenda, as most had been sufficiently implemented and others were no longer relevant.

In January 2026, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) awarded fourteen projects under the “Implementation round 3” of the Efficiency Research program, including the MedTech projects in e-health, gastrointestinal, oncology, neurosurgery, IVD, and cardiovascular fields.

On December 19, 2025, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) published the draft release of the 2027 DRG package (RZ27a). Seven new procedure codes, one new diagnosis code, and one new supplementary payment (OZP) are expected to be implemented across in-vitro diagnostics, obstetrics and gynecology, gastroenterology, urology, and other technology groups.

In 2026, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published the updated list of medical procedures reimbursed under basic health insurance with restrictions or limitations. The procedures have the so-called "claim" codes (aanspraakcodes). The Dutch Healthcare Authority assigns the "claim" codes based on positions published by the ZIN. The implemented changes included the introduction of two procedure codes for cryopreservation and storage of ovarian tissue.

In December 2025, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) opened the submission of applications for the subsidy round “Methodology development for appropriate care” of the Appropriate Care Framework program, intended for the development of new methodologies and conceptual frameworks that underpin future research and (policy) decision-making in appropriate care. The application deadline for the subsidy round is March 31, 2026.

Since March 2025, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) has been establishing new standards for vascular surgery and cancer treatment, resulting in the centralization of complex interventions only in hospitals that consistently demonstrate a high volume of such procedures. In November 2025, the seven regions agreed on which hospitals would provide complex cancer and vascular procedures starting in 2026, with a one-year transition period before the new care distribution began on January 1, 2027.