TRACE e-Gov Portal

Title	Description
Preventing alcohol abuse and alcoholism	Alcohol is psychologically and physically addictive. Frequent drinking can lead to alcoholism. The government tries to prevent alcohol abuse and alcoholism through laws and public awareness.
Young people and alcohol	Alcohol is especially harmful to children and teenagers. The government runs awareness campaigns and passes laws to protect them. It is a criminal offence for anyone under 18 to have alcohol in their possession in public and selling alcohol to minors is illegal. The government runs campaigns to raise awareness among teenagers and parents about the risks of underage drinking.
The rules on selling alcoholic beverages to young people	Alcoholic beverages may only be sold to people who are 18 or older. This is laid down in the Licensing and Catering Act.
Question and answer	1 question and answer on Alcohol
Measures against antibiotic resistance	More and more bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. This makes it more difficult for doctors to treat bacterial infections. The problem is so urgent that measures need to be taken at international level as well as in the Netherlands.
International cooperation on antibiotic resistance	Compared to other countries, antibiotic resistance is fairly rare in Dutch health care. So the fewer superbugs there are in neighbouring countries, the better it is for the Netherlands. The government has introduced a successful approach to antibiotic resistance in livestock farming. It is sharing the Dutch experience with other countries, so that they can adopt effective measures too.
Antibiotic resistance in healthcare institutions	Healthcare institutions like hospitals and nursing homes are a hotbed for resistant bacteria. And they can spread easily to other patients. That’s why there are strict rules on when antibiotics may be prescribed and how patients should be nursed. The government and health authorities have set extra goals to further reduce the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
Research into new antibiotics and non-antibiotic approaches	New antibiotics need to be developed, which doctors will be able to use when existing drugs no longer work. Non-antibiotic treatments can also reduce our dependence on antibiotics. The government encourages companies to develop new drugs and treatments. New technologies can also help prevent infections.
Antibiotic resistance in the livestock industry	Animals with a bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics. But the more often antibiotics are used, the more likely bacteria are to develop resistance to them. These superbugs can be transmitted to people. And it can be difficult to treat people with a superbug infection. That is why strict rules apply to the use of antibiotics in livestock farming.
Antibiotic resistance and food	Food like meat, fresh herbs and raw vegetables can carry bacteria. People can pick up these bacteria by handling or consuming foods. Scientists believe this is one of the ways that multidrug-resistant bacteria are transmitted to people. Practising good hygiene helps prevent foodborne infections.
Long-term care at home	Central and local government and health insurance companies are jointly responsible for long-term care.
Social Support Act (Wmo 2015)	Municipalities must help people to live at home for as long as possible. They can provide various forms of support at home under the terms of the Social Support Act (known in Dutch as the Wmo 2015).
Living independently for longer	As long as older people stay healthy, they can continue living independently and won’t need much care. But if their health takes a turn for the worse, they may require specially adapted housing or extra care. The government is keen to promote suitable housing and healthcare facilities for older people.
Question and answer	15 questions and answers on Care and support at home
Difference between hard and soft drugs	The Opium Act sets out the rules pertaining to drugs. The Act distinguishes between hard and soft drugs. The sale of soft drugs in coffee shops is tolerated in the Netherlands under certain strict conditions. A coffee shop is an establishment where cannabis may be sold but no alcoholic drinks may be sold or consumed.
Toleration policy regarding soft drugs and coffee shops	Soft drugs are less damaging to health than hard drugs. In the Netherlands, coffee shops are permitted to sell cannabis under certain strict conditions. A coffee shop is an establishment where cannabis may be sold but no alcoholic drinks may be sold or consumed. This is part of the Dutch policy of toleration.
Drug use and addiction care	Drug use can have an adverse effect on users and on public health. The government seeks to prevent people using drugs. If people nonetheless become addicted, addiction care is available. For those who are unable to kick their habit, measures are in place to limit the damage to their health.
Drug-related crime and nuisance	Drug dealers and drug users may cause considerable nuisance. This applies to cannabis growers as well as to nuisance in the vicinity of coffee shops.
International effort to combat drug trafficking and other forms of crime	The Netherlands collaborates with other countries to combat international drug trafficking and organised crime.
Am I committing a criminal offence if I possess, produce or deal in drugs?	It is a criminal offence in the Netherlands to possess, produce or deal in drugs. This applies to soft drugs as well as hard drugs. The use of drugs by persons aged 18 years or older is not a criminal offence in the Netherlands. But to prevent nuisance, municipal authorities may include a provision in their general municipal bye-laws prohibiting drug use in designated areas. If you use soft drugs in one of these designated areas, you may be arrested or ordered to pay a fine.
Why are coffee shops allowed to sell soft drugs in the Netherlands?	The government allows the sale of soft drugs in coffee shops in order to prevent people who use soft drugs from coming into contact with hard drugs. A coffee shop is an establishment where cannabis may be sold but no alcoholic drinks may be sold or consumed.
What is addiction care?	Addiction care in the Netherlands includes help kicking the habit, designated drug consumption facilities, voluntary or mandatory treatment, and inpatient or outpatient care.
How does the law distinguish between soft and hard drugs?	Dutch law distinguishes between hard and soft drugs. Soft drugs are less hazardous to health than hard drugs.
Controlled cannabis supply chain experiment	The government wishes to initiate an experiment involving the cultivation of cannabis for recreational use. The purpose of the experiment is to determining whether and how controlled cannabis can be legally supplied to coffee shops and what the effects of this would be.
Question and answer	1 question and answer on Drugs
Benefits of eHealth	eHealth offers many benefits. That is why the Dutch government is encouraging the healthcare sector to provide more eHealth services.
Government encouraging use of eHealth	The government is encouraging the healthcare sector to expand telehealth (eHealth) services.
Question and answer	2 questions and answers on eHealth (telehealth)
Compulsory standard health insurance	Every person who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out standard health insurance to cover the cost of, for example, consulting a general practitioner, hospital treatment and prescription medication. Additional health insurance is not compulsory.
Buying medicines online	Falsified medicines are widely sold online. Fake medicines can contain hazardous substances. Using these medicines can be harmful to your health. Do you plan to buy medicines online? First check that the supplier is reliable. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) works to prevent falsified medicines causing harm to people’s health.
Keeping medicines affordable	If the government does not take action, the cost of pharmaceutical drugs would rise by at least 10% every year. The government makes agreements with doctors, pharmacists and health insurers to control these costs.
Monitoring the quality and safety of medicines	Medicines can have side effects that may be harmful to your health. The government is responsible for authorising medicines for the market and monitors their quality, efficacy and safety.
Question and answer	10 questions and answers on Medicines
Primary and secondary mental health care	The government wants people with mental health problems to receive good mental health care (GGZ) in an appropriate setting. GPs are responsible for treating patients with milder forms of mental illness, and can refer people who are more seriously ill to the primary or secondary mental healthcare services.
Involuntary admission and the use of compulsion in the care sector	In the care sector, compulsion means admitting or treating someone against their will, or restricting their freedom. The government is working on simplifying legislation on involuntary admission and the use of compulsion in the care sector, and providing involuntary mental health care in community settings.
Preventing suicide	Over the past few years, the number of suicides in the Netherlands has risen by between 3 and 6% annually. The government is taking steps to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts.
Question and answer	5 questions and answers on Mental health care
Chronic Care Act (WLZ)	The WLZ provides for high-level care for vulnerable elderly people or people with severe mental or physical disabilities.
Improving elder care in nursing homes	An investigation by the Health Care Inspectorate (IGZ) has shown that the knowledge, skills and availability of care workers in nursing homes are ill-matched to the care needs of residents. That is why the government has presented a plan of action to improve the quality of nursing home care.
Care for people with disabilities	Around 113,000 people living in the Netherlands have a serious intellectual, physical or sensory impairment. They need lifelong care and supervision, 24 hours a day. The government wants to invest extra effort in improving the care for these people, as well as their quality of life.
Question and answer	10 questions and answers on Nursing homes and residential care
Rules on organ and tissue donation	The Organ Donation Act regulates organ and tissue donation in the Netherlands. Among other things, it describes the registration procedure for donors and how recipients for organs and tissue are selected.
Stem cell donation	It is not always possible to find a suitable donor for every patient who needs a stem cell transplant. The government therefore asks everyone between the ages of 18 and 50 to consider donating stem cells.
The new Donor Act (active donor registration)	The new Donor Act will introduce new rules on organ donation. Currently, organ donation can only take place with explicit consent from the donor or their surviving relatives. This will be replaced by a system of active donor registration. When the new Act comes into force in summer 2020, everyone in the Netherlands aged 18 or older will be registered in the Donor Register.
Question and answer	6 questions and answers on Organ and tissue donation
Tackling overweight and obesity	The government aims to reduce overweight and obesity. Reducing obesity is one of the three themes within the National Prevention Programme, together with smoking and alcohol abuse. These particular themes have been chosen as they all have an extremely negative impact on one’s health and cause illness. The National Prevention Programme is supposed to be starting in the end of 2018.
Population screening programmes	Population screening programmes Everyone in the Netherlands – at a certain point in their lives - will be invited to take part in one of the national population screening programs. Most programs are intended to identify (life threatening) diseases at the earliest possible stage so that prompt treatment can be given. The screening programs help to enhance public health.
Outcome-based Healthcare 2018-2022	Every patient deserves the healthcare best suited to his or her personal situation. The most suitable care is the result of the most suitable treatment. The most suitable care requires patient and healthcare provider to have insight into the outcomes that are relevant for the patient. The government collaborates with all parties in the healthcare sector in order to make outcome information available.
Safety and healthcare	Patients should be confident that the care they are receiving is safe. Central government stimulates care providers and care professionals to improve safety in the healthcare environment.
Monitoring the quality of healthcare	Health care is monitored by the Healthcare Inspectorate (IGZ) and the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZA). The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) checks that companies that provide care comply with the Competition Act.
Quality requirements for care providers	Care providers that fall under the Healthcare Insurance Act (ZVW) or the Chronic Care Act (WLZ) must satisfy the requirements in these acts. One of these requirements is that care providers must have a complaints procedure in place.
Good governance in the care sector	Good care depends on good governance and internal supervision in the organisations that provide care. Care providers can make their own policies on good governance within the legal framework set by government.
Quality of care for patients with chronic disease	Patients with a chronic medical condition often need care from several care providers. These care providers often work in partnership. This is called multidisciplinary care. This gives patients a single point of contact and also saves costs. Care standards have been developed for multidisciplinary care.
Licences under the Special Medical Procedures Act	Some medical procedures, like open heart surgery and certain organ transplants, are highly specialised. Only designated hospitals with a licence are allowed to carry them out. This is laid down in the Special Medical Procedures Act.
Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (WKKGZ)	The government wants to make sure all patients receive good-quality care. What good-quality care means is laid down in the Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (WKKGZ). The law also says what people can do if they have a complaint about the care they have received. The act came into effect on 1 January 2016.
Data protection and the Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act	The Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act introduces a modern, solution-oriented system for dealing with healthcare complaints. It also lays down rules on protecting the personal data of care professionals and patients.

Netherlands

Healthcare

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