The Dutch health authority NZa is stepping up its supervision of health insurance company CZ, saying it is not doing enough to make sure patients get the care they need.

CZ and one other insurance company had been given six months to improve their processes for dealing with waiting lists to see medical specialists and access mental health services. While the other insurance company, which was not named, had met the targets, CZ had not, hence the special measures.

“CZ has made progress but not enough, and we are moving on to the next stage,” the NZa said in a statement. CZ has now been asked to submit a plan of action, and if it fails to do so, it could face a fine.

It is the first time a health insurance company has been placed under special measures.

The NZa did not go into details about exactly where CZ, one of the big four Dutch health insurance companies, is failing.

Access to healthcare in the Netherlands can no longer be taken for granted, the NZa said.

“This is a complicated problem, and everyone involved in the healthcare system is responsible.” This means insurers and providers have to work more closely together than “ever before,” the agency said.

The NZa action will not affect patient services. CZ, which includes Ohra and Nationale-Nederlanden, has over four million policy holders.

Four health insurers – Zilveren Kruis, CZ, VGZ and Menzies – control some 85% of the market.