Drug shortages persist in the Netherlands, affecting millions
Drug shortages in the Netherlands continue to take a significant toll, impacting more than 4.5 million people in 2024 alone, according to an analysis by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij ter bevordering der Pharmacie (KNMP). The organization detailed the decade-long consequences of persistent shortages, noting that efforts to address the issue have yet to yield significant results.
“Nothing indicates that the situation is getting better—not for us, not for patients, and not for society,” said Aris Prins, chair of the KNMP.
While the total number of reported shortages decreased from 2,292 in 2023 to 1,565 in 2024, the impact on pharmacies and patients remains severe. Pharmacies across the country allocate approximately 2,000 full-time employees, or an average of one full-time staff member per pharmacy, solely to manage shortages. This effort costs 220 million euros annually, with additional expenses incurred for alternative solutions such as switching prescriptions, importing drugs, or compounding medications.
“Drug shortages are burning through hundreds of millions of euros in the Netherlands,” Prins stated.
The KNMP’s analysis revealed widespread consequences of the shortages in 2024. Over 4.5 million people across the Netherlands were affected, with pharmacies collectively spending 220 million euros annually and requiring 2,000 full-time employees to manage the issue.
Many of the affected medications included those classified as critical or listed on the “red” list of non-interchangeable drugs. Additionally, 74 percent of the shortages involved medications falling under insurers’ preference policies, further complicating the situation for patients and healthcare providers.
Drug shortages also strain other healthcare providers, including doctors and nurses, who must adapt treatment plans in response to unavailable medications. These adjustments can lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced effectiveness of treatments.
“The drugs are not always there, but the therapy must continue 24/7,” Prins said. “Pharmacies often resort to alternatives such as different brands, adjusted dosages, or therapeutically equivalent drugs, which may have more side effects or be less effective. Sometimes, importing or compounding drugs is the only option.”
The KNMP has long advocated for changes to the preferentiebeleid, a policy that prioritizes the use of specific drugs chosen by insurers to control costs. Prins noted that political support for revising this policy has grown, with numerous motions passed in the Tweede Kamer.
In addition, the KNMP urges the government to require larger stockpiles of critical drugs and to encourage drug production within Europe to reduce dependency on imports.
“We’ve seen good intentions from the government and insurers, but their measures have yet to significantly alleviate the problem,” Prins said. “We remain hopeful for progress in 2025, but we’ve observed similar patterns before, such as the temporary decrease in shortages in 2021 followed by a rise.”
The KNMP’s Farmanco database tracks shortages daily. A shortage is officially recorded if a drug is unavailable nationwide for at least 14 days. The organization has monitored shortages in the Netherlands for more than 20 years, verifying reports from pharmacists with drug manufacturers.
