Dutch health ministry challenged criticism of the delay, expressing hope that industry will engage constructively with the new framework
The Netherlands has postponed the launch of a revamped system for determining which new medicines will be covered by health insurers by six months, as patients already face some of the longest drug access delays in Europe.
Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed in a letter to parliament on 28 May that the so-called Future-Proof Medicines System – known by its Dutch acronym TSG – will not come into force until January 2028, following a request from the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) to extend the original July 2027 deadline.
The delay comes as data from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations show that Dutch patients waited an average of 493 days in 2025 to access a new medicine after its approval by the European Medicines Agency – one of the highest figures recorded under the EFPIA’s annual WAIT Indicator survey.
The Dutch Association of Innovative Medicines (VIG), an industry body, warned before the postponement was announced that the TSG risked creating “additional hurdles and stricter requirements” that would apply uniquely to the Netherlands, potentially pushing waiting times even higher.
