News item | 11/30/2023 | 10:00
Patients, prescribers and drug manufacturers can now use the ‘Dashboard ‘Medicine lead times’ see what the reimbursement status is for expensive, new medicines that are authorized on the Dutch market. The online dashboard shows detailed information about how far along in the reimbursement process these medicines are before they can be reimbursed by health insurance. The online dashboard was developed by the Central Information Point for Healthcare Professions (CIBG) on behalf of Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health, Welfare and Sport).
Minister Ernst Kuipers: “This online dashboard is a major step forward in transparency surrounding the admission process. Everyone can now see how new, expensive medicines are admitted to the insured package. That’s good news for patients, prescribers and manufacturers. It gives everyone more clarity and insight and that is nice.”
The lock
In the Netherlands, most medicines are reimbursed through basic insurance. In recent years, more and more very expensive medicines have become available. These types of new medicines (which are only used in hospitals) are placed in the so-called lock. This means that the drug is first assessed by experts from the Dutch Healthcare Institute. They test and assess whether a new and expensive product meets the requirements and conditions set by the government. For example, a product must be effective, meet the state of the art in science and practice and have a relatively reasonable price.
After the assessment, the Healthcare Institute advises the minister whether or not to admit the drug to the insured package under certain conditions. The minister can then decide to negotiate the price with the manufacturer and a decision will be made about the reimbursement of the medicine.
The dashboard
The Medicine Lead Times Dashboard (dashboard) provides insight into the phase of the reimbursement process (submission, assessment or negotiation) of expensive new medicines that have been admitted to the Dutch market. The lead times per phase are also visible via the dashboard.
Diseases or medicines can be selected on the home page of the dashboard. You can then click through to a specific medicine. More information about the reimbursement status of the medicine will then be displayed: whether the medicine has already been reimbursed, where the medicine is in the reimbursement process and how long this process already takes or has taken.