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Pharmaceutical market in the Netherlands - Statistics & Facts

The Dutch pharmaceutical market is currently generating revenues of some 4.7 billion euros within basic health insurance coverage. With this amount it represents one of the mid-sized national markets among EU-countries. Pharmaceutical expenditures are the second largest category among total health care costs in the Netherlands, only topped by medical specialized care. Health care expenditures in the Netherlands total almost 52 billion euros (while by the broader definition – including long-term treatment, welfare, social services and child care – these costs are even twice as high).

In a phase of recovery

The Dutch health market in general saw a significant recovery in the volume of health goods in the second pandemic year of 2021. Expenditures in most of the main health segments were reported to have grown. For example, spending on general practitioners saw a 5.1 percent increase. However, pharmaceutical revenues in the Netherlands within basic health insurance coverage still have not reached the value of 2011, when the five billion euro mark was exceeded for the first time.

Independent pharmacies are top

Like in most countries, the Dutch pharmaceutical market is dominated by pharmacies as the major distribution channel. In the Netherlands, the number of public pharmacies has been almost the same over the last five years, with only slight fluctuations. Most pharmacies in the country are independent, while around a third are owned by larger chains. As of January 2022, of nearly two thousand pharmacies, 1,171 were independent. Average pharmacy costs per person under the Dutch Health Insurance Act came to 276 euros in 2020, significantly lower than in the years before 2012.

The consumer’s side

When it comes to the consumer side, omeprazole was the second most used drug in the Netherlands during 2021. Some 1.3 million Dutch used the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to treat symptoms of the gastroesophageal reflux disease. Based on expenditures, the leading drug in 2021 was anticoagulant rivaroxaban, sold under the brand name Xarelto. In general, there is a decreasing trend in dispensed medicines among some major therapeutic classes in the Netherlands like, for example, antidepressants, analgesics, and respiratory medicines. The self-medication market in the Netherlands is substantial, generating revenues totaling over 840 million euros, with vitamins and minerals representing the largest single chunk, followed by respiratory products and pain relief remedies.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Nov 9, 2022

Key insights

Expenditure growth for medicines in the Netherlands in 2021
-1.4%
Estimated pharmaceutical revenue within the Dutch basic health insurance coverage in 2021
4.7 bn EUR
Projected pharmaceutical care costs in the Netherlands in 2021
5 bn EUR
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Total healthcare costs in the Netherlands in 2022, by type (in million euros)

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Total healthcare costs in the Netherlands 2022, by type

Leading medicines with the highest expenditure in the Netherlands in 2021 (in million euros)

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Medicines with the highest expenditure in the Netherlands 2021

Number of dispensed antidepressants in the Netherlands from 2014 to 2021

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Dispensed antidepressants in the Netherlands 2014-2021

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