News item | 08-09-2025 | 16:34
Today the supplementary care and welfare agreement (AZWA) is signed. In Health Center De Rubenshoek in The Hague, care and welfare organizations and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) came together to conclude the agreement. The signing follows after the parties involved have successfully consulted their members. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) signs with reservation because the members’ consultation still has to take place. Before the summer, the parties involved already concluded a negotiating agreement.
The care and support of people in the Netherlands is at a critical point. We are getting older and older. That in itself is great news, but that makes more and more Dutch people need care and support. This group will even double in the coming years. At the same time, the number of healthcare providers is not growing sufficiently. If we do not change anything, there will soon be insufficient help for people who need it. That is why we are going to organize it smarter for and with each other.
New agreements for accessible and affordable care
The agreements in this new agreement are a supplement to the agreements from the Integral Care Agreement that was concluded in 2022. As with the Integral Care Agreement (IZA), the supplementary care and welfare agreement (AZWA) must ensure that care in the Netherlands remains accessible and affordable. Regardless of where you live, whether you have a small or large wallet, what condition you have, or what your age is. With new agreements, the course used from the Integral Care Agreement (IZA) must be accelerated, widened and deepened.
To ensure that everyone gets good access to care, healthcare must become smarter. We do this, for example, by improving the information about waiting times. In this way, patients, doctors and insurers get a better picture of waiting times. When someone is on a long waiting list, insurers can help to find a healthcare provider with a shorter waiting time.
Cooperation with the social domain
An important part of the supplementary care and welfare agreement (AZWA) is a stronger cooperation between the medical and social domain. That to prevent people from needing care. Healthcare providers, municipalities and insurers make agreements in the region. For example, these are about topics such as promising growing up, a healthy lifestyle and vital aging. There will also be extra money to get people in their own neighborhood and region to be helped. Where general practitioners and neighborhood teams can work closely together. Supporting citizens’ initiatives and a healthy school environment are also part of this.