On 18 February, Zorginstituut Nederland, the Dutch National Health Care Institute, advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) not to reimburse lecanemab for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) under the basic health insurance package. According to Zorginstituut Nederland, lecanemab is not effective enough for people with early AD, is unsuitable for a large group and only a small percentage of patients would be eligible for treatment.
Following this negative advice, Alzheimer Nederland issued a statement calling on the minister to make lecanemab available to the limited group of patients who could benefit and to allow them to make an informed choice together with their doctor. “This small group should be given the opportunity to choose together with their doctor. We see that the patient perspective has not been sufficiently considered in this recommendation,” said Wiesje van der Flier, Director of Alzheimer Nederland.
Read the negative advice from Zorginstituut Nederland here:
Read Alzheimer Nederland’s statement here:
https://www.alzheimer-nederland.nl/nieuws/patient-buitenspel-bij-afwijzing-alzheimermedicatie
