Dutch gov't setting stricter requirements to prevent healthcare fraud
The Dutch government announced a broad package of measures on Monday aimed at tightening control over healthcare fraud and preventing criminal organizations from siphoning off billions of euros in public health funds.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, an estimated 10 billion euros in healthcare funds may be diverted annually through fraud schemes, money intended for vulnerable patients.
A central element of the plan is stricter “gatekeeping” for entry into the healthcare sector. The government is preparing legislation that would tighten admission requirements for all providers funded through the Health Insurance Act (Zvw), Long-Term Care Act (Wlz), Youth Act (Jeugdwet), and personal care budgets (pgb’s). The bill is not expected to reach parliament until 2028.
Authorities also plan a uniform screening test assessing integrity, quality, and legality. Without a passing result, providers would be blocked from accessing public healthcare funding. In addition, the licensing requirement will be expanded to include all providers, including self-employed professionals (zzp’ers) and subcontractors, who are currently sometimes exempt.
Another requirement would obligate directors, owners, and supervisory board members to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG), aimed at excluding individuals with questionable backgrounds from entering the sector.
Minister for Long-Term Care Mirjam Sterk said the system had been too permissive for years. “We have been too naive,” she said, adding in a formal statement that “the consequences of healthcare fraud are enormous: people do not receive the care they are entitled to, healthcare workers end up in unsafe situations, and public money disappears into the pockets of fraudsters and criminals.” She described the trend as a “worrying shift from individual fraud to organized crime in healthcare,” calling it “shocking and completely unacceptable.”
Enforcement measures will also expand significantly. The government plans more frequent on-site inspections for new and higher-risk providers, moving beyond document-based checks to physical audits designed to detect fraud in practice.
The use of the Public Administration Probity Screening Act will be expanded, allowing authorities to investigate links between healthcare providers and criminal networks. The government has allocated up to 50 million euros per year for the package, funding the Dutch Labour Inspectorate and the Public Prosecution Service so they can investigate and prosecute more cases.
Officials also plan to strengthen cooperation between investigative bodies through multidisciplinary teams that can respond faster to fraud signals.
The government said fraudsters currently exploit fragmentation in the Dutch healthcare system, where municipalities, insurers, and regulators often fail to coordinate effectively.
The Ministry of Justice and Security is also looking for a legal basis to share police intelligence on suspected healthcare fraud with partners in the Taskforce Integrity Healthcare Sector (TIZ) so they can respond faster to organized crime indicators.
A planned warning register for fraudulent providers is also under development, though it is reportedly not yet operational.
Authorities say fraud patterns are changing. Instead of simple false billing, investigators increasingly encounter professional networks using healthcare as a business model for organized crime.
