[Reimbursement for alternative medical treatment in the Netherlands, incomprehensible]

It is remarkable that, at a time when not only doctors but also the Health Care Inspectorate (IGZ) and the health insurance companies are paying increasing attention to the quality of conventional medicine, many alternative methods of treatments without a scientific basis are accepted in the Netherlands. Even though it has been conclusively demonstrated that most alternative therapies do not work and despite the absence of scientific proof of the safety and efficacy of alternative treatments, health insurance companies do often reimburse the incurred costs. Because the safety of alternative therapies is not guaranteed, these are neither in the interest of the patient nor of society. Moreover, they are associated with considerable costs for the individual patient. By reimbursing the costs of insufficiently proven treatments, the health insurance companies are applying double standards. Reimbursement for these therapies is made at the expense of other effective and proven treatments. This can be changed through the concerted efforts of policy-makers, doctors, the IGZ, and health insurance companies.