Nictiz Develops Vision for Enhanced Dutch Healthcare Data Systems
The Hague, Wednesday, 14 May 2025.
Nictiz is crafting a national strategy to revolutionize healthcare info systems in the Netherlands, aiming to improve data accessibility and interoperability, making healthcare more resilient for the future.
Strategic Vision for 2035
Nictiz, established in 2002 as the Dutch knowledge organization for digital healthcare information, is spearheading an ambitious transformation of the Netherlands’ healthcare information infrastructure. The organization has set a clear target for 2035, whereby healthcare information will be recorded in a standardized language that’s comprehensible to both humans and machines during the care process [1]. This initiative represents a collaborative effort between Nictiz, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport [1].
European Integration and Standards
A significant milestone in this digital transformation is the recent implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which marks a crucial step toward improving cross-border health data availability [1]. Nictiz is actively working with VWS, NEN, and ZiN through the Xt-EHR project to establish secure and standardized data exchange protocols [1]. To support this transition, a technical enhancement scheduled for July 2025 will expand SNOMED CT descriptions capacity to 4,096 characters from the current 255-character limit [1].
Implementation and Innovation
The organization recently achieved a significant milestone with the successful publication of new healthcare information standards (zibs) on April 23, 2025 [1]. To further advance the implementation of these standards, Nictiz is organizing a Standardization Congress on May 27 in Hilversum, which will cover crucial topics including ICD-11 implementation, end-user engagement, and updates on SNOMED and FHIR protocols [1]. The organization is also strengthening its team by seeking a Strategic Advisor with expertise in citizen perspective and social domain, offering a competitive salary range of €4,812 to €7,200 [1].
International Collaboration and Future Prospects
The initiative aligns with broader European healthcare innovation efforts, as exemplified by the University Hospital Basel’s Open Innovation Challenge [4]. This parallel initiative demonstrates the growing international focus on improving clinical data capture and standardization using openEHR technology, offering insights that could benefit the Dutch healthcare system’s transformation [4]. As of May 14, 2025, Nictiz continues to emphasize collaboration and practical implementation, focusing on translating these technological advances into tangible improvements in Dutch healthcare delivery [1].