Number of public pharmacies in the Netherlands 2017-2024

The number of public pharmacies in the Netherlands increased slightly from 1,989 in 2018 to 2,005 in 2021, and finally stood at 1,953 in January 2024. 

Macrogol most frequently used medicine

Examining the medicines with the highest usage in the Netherlands, macrogol, used to treat constipation, was with roughly 1.4 million users, one of the most frequently used medications in 2023. Usage of omeprazole amounted to some 1.2 million users, while diclofenac (which reduces inflammation and pain) was used by around 0.8 million users. Concerning the leading drug classes outside the basic health insurance coverage by total expenditure, spending on contraceptives, hormonal and local medicines amounted to approximately 44 million euros, followed by sleeping medicines and sedatives with an expenditure of some 43 million euros.

Increasing medicine costs per pharmacy

The average total medicine costs per pharmacy declined between 2011 and 2013, before increasing again to approximately 1.5 million euros per pharmacy in 2018 (last year for which data is available). The tariff revenues increased slightly as well, from 663 thousand euros in 2017 to 720 thousand in 2023.