Dutch health spending soars to €113.5 billion in 2024, outpacing economy
Health care expenditures in the Netherlands surged in 2024 to 113.5 billion euros, an increase of 8.5 billion euros, or 8.1 percent, compared to the previous year. The rise outpaced the country’s economic growth, pushing health care spending to 10 percent of gross domestic product, up from 9.8 percent in 2023, according to provisional figures released Monday by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
CBS reports two measures of health care spending: an international standard aligned with Eurostat, the OECD and the World Health Organization, and a broader national figure that includes social welfare expenditures. The international definition, used in this release, focuses on medical and nursing care and includes only part of long-term care. CBS said the broader figure will be published later in the year when more data become available.
A large share of the increase stemmed from higher wages and a growing workforce in the health and welfare sectors. Hourly wages under collective labor agreements, including bonuses, rose 7.4 percent in 2024. The number of hours worked in the sector also increased, up 2.9 percent from the previous year.
Expenditures under the Long-Term Care Act, or Wlz—which covers intensive, long-term care for older adults, people with disabilities and those with psychiatric conditions—rose by 11 percent in 2024. Spending under the Health Insurance Act, or Zvw—which funds the standard health care system—increased by 7.9 percent. Within the Zvw system, home-based long-term care, known as wijkverpleging, saw a 3.9 percent rise in spending.
Direct out-of-pocket payments by patients rose by 7.5 percent. However, since mandatory deductibles under the Zvw and co-payments under the Wlz increased only modestly, the total rise in private health spending was limited to 5.9 percent—lower than the overall increase in health care expenditures.
Spending on outpatient prescription drugs jumped more than 7 percent in 2024, the largest annual increase since 2007. According to the Dutch National Health Care Institute, the rise in pharmaceutical costs was not primarily due to more patients, but rather to a shift toward more expensive medications and rising drug prices.
Public and private funding sources all increased. Spending under the Health Insurance Act rose from 53 billion euros to 57.2 billion euros. Long-Term Care Act expenditures climbed from 25.3 billion euros to 28 billion euros. Government funding rose to 9.1 billion euros, up from 8.5 billion euros in 2023. Direct out-of-pocket payments increased from 7.2 billion to 7.7 billion euros. Voluntary financing rose slightly to 5.7 billion euros. Zvw deductibles went from 3.6 billion to 3.7 billion euros, and Wlz co-payments rose from 1.9 billion to 2 billion euros.
Spending on preventive care—including vaccinations and health screenings—rose just 1 percent in 2024, the smallest increase among all health care functions. CBS attributed the limited growth to a steep decline in COVID-19-related expenses by municipal health services, or GGD, such as testing and vaccinations.
CBS data showed that spending increased across nearly all categories of health services in 2024. Governance and administrative costs saw the sharpest rise, up 11.9 percent. Long-term care expenditures followed with a 9.7 percent increase. Medical care rose 7.8 percent.
Pharmaceutical spending, including medical supplies, climbed 7.5 percent. Rehabilitation services rose 6.7 percent. Spending on therapeutic aids and support services increased by 6.6 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. Preventive care showed the smallest gain, rising just 1 percent year over year.
Although 2024 data for other countries are not yet available, the Netherlands ranked among the highest in the European Union for per capita health care spending in 2023. Dutch residents spent an average of 5,871 euros per person on health care that year, behind only Germany at 6,417 euros and Austria at 5,938 euros. Romania had the lowest per capita health spending at 2,249 euros. CBS noted that these figures were adjusted for price differences between countries to allow fair comparisons.
