The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse the rabies vaccine (Verorab®) from the basic health care package. This vaccine can be used to prevent rabies after a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal. If the minister adopts our advice, the rabies vaccine will be included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS). Only then will this vaccine be reimbursed from the health care insurer's basic health care package. However, we do recommend an additional condition for reimbursement.
Rabies vaccine is intended to prevent rabies after a possible infection
Rabies is a life-threatening infectious disease. This disease is caused by the rabies virus and is also called hydrophobia.
The rabies virus can be transmitted to humans after a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal. Without rapid treatment, the disease is lethal. The rabies vaccine prevents the virus from entering the brain and prevents people becoming ill after a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal. The vaccine can be used by people who are at increased risk of exposure to saliva from an infected animal. The vaccine can also be used in humans after exposure to saliva from a potentially infected animal. The marketing authorisation holder only applies for reimbursement for the use of the vaccine after a person has been bitten, scratched or licked by a potentially infected animal.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of rabies vaccine
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse rabies vaccine (Verorab®) from the basic health care package. The advice is to include the medicinal product in List 1B of the GVS. An additional condition, the so-called List 2 condition, applies for Verorab®.
For more information on the GVS and the Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see page ‘Reimbursement of extramural drugs (GVS)’.
More information or questions?
If you have any questions about this advice, please send your question to the National Health Care Institute via warcg@zinl.nl. If you have questions about the reimbursement of a medicinal product, the personal expenses or whether you should pay a contribution, please ask your health insurance provider.
How did the advice come about?
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport after the assessment. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medicinal product from the basic health care package.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
Rabies vaccine is an outpatient drug. Outpatient means: medicines for home use that can be obtained at the pharmacy with the prescription from a physician. They are only reimbursed from the basic health care package if they are listed in the GVS.