The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) has allocated the (medical) training places for 2026 among all training healthcare providers. These are the training places for which an availability contribution applies. The NZa does this on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and will also do so for 2027.
Criteria and procedure
The NZa has involved the proposals of advisory bodies TOP Training Places and Stichting BOLS in the distribution of training places among individual healthcare providers. The criteria named in the instruction of the Ministry of VWS have been taken into account. Healthcare providers who train healthcare professionals receive a compensation, the so-called availability contribution. The NZa determines the amount of the compensation after cost research. The total number of intake places per specialty is determined by the Ministry of VWS. This is done after advice from the Capacity Body that calculates how many healthcare professionals will be needed in the future.
Temporary assignment
Due to the ruling of the Administrative Jurisdiction Division for business (CBb), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) no longer has a legal basis to do this itself. Therefore, the Minister of VWS has temporarily assigned this task to the NZa, so that the training of healthcare professionals can continue. We have worked intensively with the ministry to comply with the ruling of the CBb. After amendment of our policy rule, all training healthcare providers have received a timely decision for 2026 with which they can apply for an availability contribution.