National maternity-care waiting-list tool ends as partners prepare a replacement for 2027

The Netherlands’ national digital tool for maternity-care waiting lists stopped operating on 5 October 2026. Bo Geboortezorg, Atermes and Zorgverzekeraars Nederland jointly decided to end the service. It had been introduced in 2025 to help maternity-care providers, regional organisations and health insurers coordinate the distribution of limited care capacity. Although the technology performed as intended, too few parties used the system in practice to make national coordination effective.

For families, this means that possible waiting lists for maternity care will no longer be coordinated through this national tool. The health insurers designated as preferred insurers will make arrangements with the relevant regions instead. The organisations involved state that no clients had an active waiting status in the system on 5 October. Providers registered in the tool have been notified of its closure, while other parties will be informed where necessary.

The decision is not the end of plans for a national approach. Bo Geboortezorg, Zorgverzekeraars Nederland and VECOZO intend to develop a lasting replacement and will use lessons from the existing tool in that work. Their stated goal is to have a new national facility available before summer 2027. The organisations involved will receive further information about the next steps in the coming period. Until then, waiting-list coordination will rely on agreements between preferred health insurers and the regions.