DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
Medicine shortages in the Netherlands expected to double this year
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Medicine shortages in the Netherlands expected to double this year

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Help others during the coronavirus pandemic: Initiatives in the NetherlandsHelp others during the coronavirus pandemic: Initiatives in the Netherlands
Many hospitals in NL only to perform emergency surgeries this summerMany hospitals in NL only to perform emergency surgeries this summer
Damages bill at Dutch hospitals up almost 500% in 10 years Damages bill at Dutch hospitals up almost 500% in 10 years
2019 Dutch health insurance premiums announced2019 Dutch health insurance premiums announced
First health insurer announces premiums - much higher than expectedFirst health insurer announces premiums - much higher than expected
Dutch health insurance premiums have risen almost 75 percent in 13 years Dutch health insurance premiums have risen almost 75 percent in 13 years
A few big Dutch health insurers lowering premiums for 2020A few big Dutch health insurers lowering premiums for 2020
Coronavirus update (March 27): Another 112 deadCoronavirus update (March 27): Another 112 dead
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Sep 25, 2019
Mina Solanki
Completed her Master's degree at the University of Groningen and worked as a translator before joining IamExpat. She loves to read and has a particular interest in Greek mythology. In addition to this, she is an avid rower.Read more

The Minister for Medical Care, Bruno Bruins, expects the number of reports of medicine shortages to double compared to last year. This is partially due to increasing awareness in the Netherlands of the existing shortage hotlines.

Medicine shortages in the Netherlands

This year, between January and August, there were 2.044 reports of impending or actual shortages. During the same period in 2018, there were only 1.065 reports of this kind and 1.390 for the whole of last year. Because of the shortages, patients have to make do with either no medicine or less effective ones.

The cause of the shortages? Production delays in countries like India and China, amongst other things. According to Bruins, the Netherlands has become too dependent on these countries. He feels that the Netherlands, along with other EU Member States, should produce their own components for medicine if necessary. Moreover, he wants larger reserves of medicines to be built so that temporary deficits can be better compensated for.

Some of the medicines affected are, for example, drugs for Parkinson's, thyroid problems, nasal cream with antibiotics and contraceptives. 

Making medicine

In other medical news, Bruins has said that pharmacists are allowed to reproduce expensive medicines in certain cases. During an episode of WNL Op Zondag, the minister declared that: “When insane amounts of money are being asked for medicine without good reasoning, I feel that there should be enough leeway to make the medication ourselves”.

Bruins emphasised that this should be the case, “in a certain setting and for a certain group of patients.” He also added that if manufacturers have invested a lot of money in a medicine they should be open about this.

By Mina Solanki