Effecten van de pakketmaatregel vitamine D: eindrapportage: met een focus op kwetsbare groepen.

As of the 1st of January 2023, all colecalciferol-containing medicinal products and calcifediol have been removed from the Medicine Reimbursement System (in Dutch: GVS). These are medicinal products that are used to prevent or treat a vitamin D deficiency. This follows an earlier measure that came into effect from 1 January 2019, when lower strengths of vitamin D were no longer reimbursed from the basic health care package. With the current package measure, also higher strengths of vitamin D are no longer reimbursed. This study provides insight into the first effects of this package measure for vulnerable groups who used higher strengths of vitamin D per prescription in 2022 and were reimbursed. The following research questions were answered: 1. Do vulnerable groups who were prescribed vitamin D in 2022 still use vitamin D after January 1, 2023 and what are their arguments for this? 2. Do vulnerable groups who already obtained vitamin D themselves in 2022 and paid for vitamin D after January 1, 2023, still use vitamin D and what are their arguments for this? This study shows that two thirds of people who belong to the vulnerable group continue to use vitamin D after the package measure came into effect. They do this because they understand the importance of vitamin D use for their health. However, some people still stop using it, or plan to do so when their supply runs out. A main reason for this are the costs. An undesirable effect of the package measure is that people stop using vitamin D because of the cost. Not everyone discusses their vitamin D use with their healthcare provider. It is important to continue to monitor vitamin D use among vulnerable groups and, if necessary, to take measures to promote use among those for whom use of vitamin D is necessary.