In 2012, the Netherlands introduced a conditional reimbursement (CR) program to give patients earlier access to promising treatments (i.e., drugs and medical devices). After completion of the CR-study the results are used to (re)assess whether the treatment fulfills the criteria for reimbursement.

Promising treatments were identified via a bottom-up (physicians/researchers initiated) or top-down process (after the Dutch National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Netherland; ZIN) concluded that the intervention did not fulfill the criteria for reimbursement but the initial results seemed promising). A CR-grant was only approved if a committee determined the treatment had an added (health, social, ethical or organizational) benefit compared to Standard of Care (SoC) and the grant proposal was of good quality and fit for purpose. After approval from the Dutch Ministry of Health, all Dutch insurance companies were obliged to reimburse the treatment for patients participating in the CR-study. Researchers could also apply for a research grant (maximum EUR 400,000) from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), if there was no ‘wealthy’ manufacturer.

Currently, there are 23 (ongoing and completed) CR-studies. All of them are closely monitored by ZIN, ZonMw, and stakeholders. The results of all completed CR-studies (n = 11) have been used in a (re)assessment. ZIN concluded that five treatments were not effective compared to SoC. Six interventions were effective and cost-effective compared to SoC and are now reimbursed. In most cases (>80%) the physician and patient groups agreed with the conclusion about reimbursement. In some cases there were additional requirements to maintain the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in clinical practice (such as training of new physicians).

Data from CR-studies are important for reassessments. Factors with a positive influence are: a maximum duration for a CR-study, close monitoring, possibility to adapt the study design (only with approval from ZIN and ZonMw), and active involvement of stakeholders (physician and patient groups). A negative influence was: the legal requirements to ensure only reimbursement for patients participating in a CR-study.