What is the ‘lock procedure’?
The expensive medicines “lock" is a procedure in the Netherlands for managing the introduction of new, high-cost medicines. Medicines that cost more than €50,000 per patient per year and exceed a total annual cost of €10 million, or those with projected annual costs over €20 million, are temporarily excluded from basic health insurance coverage. This process allows the government time to assess whether the medication is effective and if its price is reasonable in relation to the health benefits it offers. During this period, the Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport (VWS) negotiates with the manufacturer on pricing, while the National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) evaluates whether the medicine can be added to the basic insurance package.
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