The health ministry has been given the legal green light to cut the amount of money it sends to hospitals by €549m to correct an overspend last year, the high court in The Hague ruled on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s ruling overturns a ruling by a lower court in September.
Hospitals were furious at the plan and went to court, arguing that they are not responsible for the overspend because they only provide healthcare according to demand.
The lower court agreed with the hospitals, adding that standards would come under pressure with such a major cut in spending.