Dutch government plans 66 more medical student places, below advised level

The Dutch government plans to add 66 places for new medical students from the 2027 intake, raising capacity from 2,984 to 3,050, according to an ANP report published by Nieuws.nl. The increase reverses an earlier reduction, but leaves the planned total 280 places below the 3,330 recommended by the Capaciteitsorgaan, a healthcare workforce advisory body. These figures describe planned capacity, not the number of students who will enrol. [1]

ANP reports that the advisory body’s recommendation takes account, for the first time, of demand for doctors working before specialist training, as well as places in subsequent training programmes. Education minister Rianne Letschert said the government recognised the need for enough of these doctors but was adopting the recommendation only in part. She said the advisory body regarded its new estimate as indicative and subject to considerable uncertainty. [1]

The government also plans 28 extra dental hygienist training places from the 2027/28 academic year, bringing the total to 381 in line with the body’s advice. It will not expand dentistry places from the current 279 towards the recommended 368; Letschert cited the high cost. Places for nurse specialists and physician assistants are also set to grow, while health minister Mirjam Sterk has announced an increase in training places for healthcare psychologists. ANP gave no figures for those increases. [1]