News items Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sporthttps://www.government.nl/News items of Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport on Government.nlen-GBAny form of re-use of the content of this feed is permittedMon, 09 Mar 2026 03:12:29 GMT5News itemshttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2025/06/30/government-acknowledges-additional-suffering-of-children-placed-in-careThe government recognises the additional distress that children experienced due to both the benefits scandal and subsequent care orders. In a letter to the House of Representatives, Minister Struycken (Legal Protection), Minister Palmen-Schlangen (Benefits and Redress) and Minister Tielen (Youth, Prevention and Sport) respond to the ‘Inheritance of Injustice’ report by the Hamer Commission that carried out the investigation. The government has also announced specific measures to support young people.Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT8f7a012b-4328-4a48-a8e8-8cf8e54a78a3https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2024/12/10/experimental-phase-of-the-closed-coffee-shop-chain-experiment-weed-experiment-to-begin-in-aprilAs from 7 April 2025, coffee shops in municipalities participating in the weed experiment will only be allowed to sell regulated cannabis. The responsible ministers, Minister Van Weel (Justice and Security) and State Secretary Karremans (Health, Welfare and Sport), informed the House of this development today. This date is final, providing certainty for municipalities, coffee shop owners and growers.Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:00:00 GMT390f06e5-426e-481c-93e4-a7b8445c621dhttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/09/28/ministry-of-health-welfare-and-sport-and-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-sign-dutch-global-health-pact-together-with-more-than-20-partiesErnst Kuipers, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, and Pascalle Grotenhuis, Director-General for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are joining forces with some 20 parties to strengthen commitment to improving public health worldwide. The Dutch Global Health Hub was launched on 28 September 2023. The parties have signed the Global Health Pact to take their commitment one step further.Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:25:00 GMTb3a22ebf-5fe7-4c0d-8924-2fc7bbd45867https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/09/25/ministry-of-health-welfare-and-sport-to-organise-international-defeating-dementia-conference-on-2-octoberThe number of people with dementia worldwide is increasing rapidly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 55 million people are currently living with dementia – a number that is expected to increase to 139 million by 2050. On 2 October 2023, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) will be organising the international Defeating Dementia conference.Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:30:00 GMT1963002c-8e52-4172-9de3-21d695197300https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/09/13/start-of-autumn-2023-coronavirus-vaccination-campaign-on-2-octoberFrom 2 October 2023 people who have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, such as people over 60 and pregnant women, can get another coronavirus vaccination. Healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients or clients are also eligible. The municipal health service (GGD) will administer the jabs using the latest vaccine. It offers the best available protection against current XBB coronavirus variants.Wed, 13 Sep 2023 11:02:00 GMTe1af2184-203f-4caf-a5c8-2e03114ac4a2https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/06/12/from-1-july-digital-covid-certificates-will-no-longer-be-issuedOn 1 July 2023 the EU regulation under which European Digital COVID Certificates (DCC) are issued will expire. As a result, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will stop issuing international digital certificates in the CoronaCheck app as of 1 July 2023.Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:18:00 GMT89f7b0d2-f71c-42d1-8ed1-52472d1e0e8ahttps://www.government.nl/latest/news/2022/02/15/3-steps-to-reopen-the-netherlandsCOVID-19 infection rates are high, and many people are self-isolating or self-quarantining at home. But despite the high number of cases, hospital admissions remain stable. We are more resistant to the virus due to vaccinations, booster shots and acquired immunity. So the Netherlands is going to open up. Not all at once, but in 3 stages. Each stage is a big step towards full reopening, and the steps will follow each other in rapid succession.Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:23:00 GMTec83e5d8-9179-4364-b7d2-becb15cfcd51https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2017/05/16/working-together-internationally-to-tackle-dementiaThere are 47.5 million people in the world living with dementia, and their numbers are steadily increasing. This makes a joint international response to dementia crucial. State secretary for health Martijn van Rijn has issued a joint statement with Malta and Slovakia (which form together with the Netherlands the EU Presidency Trio) on efforts to improve, intensify and diffuse dementia programmes, both within the EU and worldwide. The statement, adopted under Malta’s EU Presidency, affirms the importance of research and of improving the quality of life for people living with dementia and their loved ones.Wed, 17 May 2017 08:30:00 GMTeaaa500d-9d1f-4881-9e6c-896fbe6521f3https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2017/05/11/van-rijn-entering-into-new-shared-agreements-on-innovation-and-affordable-prices-for-medicinesDutch State Secretary Martin van Rijn (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) calls on governments, the pharmaceutical industry, NGOs, and patients’ representatives to work together on new agreements with regard to innovation and affordable prices for medicines­­. These new agreements must result in a breakthrough in resolving the current impasse whereby healthcare systems all over the world are coming under increasing pressure. These pressures are the result of rising prices for medicines on the one hand and shortages of medicines on the other. Shortages are caused by the prices for some medicines being too low, which in turn discourages manufacturers from producing these medicines.Thu, 11 May 2017 17:32:00 GMTe52f16ee-dc60-44ee-96e7-6fedc47ce0c7