What is a BIG-registered doctor and why is that important?
A BIG-registered doctor is a healthcare provider who is officially registered in the BIG register, the Dutch quality register for healthcare professionals. This registration proves that the doctor possesses the required training, authorisations and professional competence to provide medical care. For patients, it is the most direct way to check whether they are dealing with a recognised professional. The questions below explain what that registration entails and why it matters.
What does the BIG register check precisely?
The BIG register checks whether a healthcare provider meets the legal requirements for training, authorisation and professional competence as laid down in the Individual Healthcare Professions Act. Only those who meet these requirements are granted registration and may use the protected professional title.
Specifically, this concerns the following aspects:
- Education and qualification: The doctor has completed a recognised medical training programme at a Dutch or equivalent foreign institution.
- Jurisdiction: The doctor is legally authorised to perform restricted procedures, such as prescribing prescription-only medication.
- Competence The doctor keeps their knowledge up to date and meets the re-registration requirements which are periodically assessed.
- Disciplinary status: The register shows whether restrictions or disciplinary measures have been imposed by the disciplinary tribunal.
The register is managed by the CIBG, an executive agency of the Ministry of Health. Each registration has a unique BIG number with which the details can be publicly queried.
How does a BIG-registered doctor differ from an unregistered healthcare provider?
The main difference is legal authority and accountability. A BIG-registered doctor is permitted to perform reserved procedures, falls under medical disciplinary law and is obliged to adhere to professional standards. An unregistered care provider does not have those authorities and falls outside this oversight system.
In practice, this means that an unregistered healthcare provider may not prescribe prescription-only medication, cannot make diagnoses in the legal sense and cannot be held accountable under disciplinary law through the official channels. In the event of complaints about a BIG-registered doctor, a patient can turn to a regional disciplinary tribunal. That option does not exist with someone who falls outside the register.
This distinction is relevant when choosing a care provider, especially online. A provider that works with BIG-registered doctors offers a demonstrable level of medical accountability that is lacking in non-registered providers.
Why is only a BIG-registered healthcare professional authorised to prescribe prescription-only medication?
Prescription-only medication may only be prescribed by a BIG-registered doctor because the law classifies this as a reserved procedure. Only healthcare professionals with the correct registration and authority are permitted to carry out this procedure independently. This protects patients against the improper use of medicines that can cause harm if incorrectly applied.
The rationale behind this system is that prescription-only medication carries risks that require medical assessment. A doctor weighs contraindications, interactions with other medication and the patient's individual health situation before issuing a prescription. Without that assessment, the risk of harm is considerably greater.
Bee telecare in the Netherlands the same legal obligation applies. Even if a consultation takes place digitally, a BIG-registered doctor must assess the request and issue the prescription. A pharmacy will then only process prescriptions that meet those conditions.
How can you check a BIG registration yourself?
A BIG registration is easy to check via the public BIG register at bigregister.nl. Anyone can search there free of charge by name or BIG number. The search result shows the professional title, the registration date, any specialisations and whether disciplinary restrictions are in force.
The steps are as follows:
- Go to bigregister.nl.
- Enter the name or BIG registration number of the healthcare provider.
- Check the professional title and the validity of the registration.
- Check whether any notes or restrictions have been included.
It is wise to carry out this check when a new healthcare provider prescribes medication or conducts a medical assessment, especially in an online environment where personal contact is lacking. A legitimate telehealth provider usually makes the BIG registration number of the practitioner involved visible or available upon request.
What happens if a doctor violates the BIG standards?
If a BIG-registered doctor violates professional standards, a patient can submit a complaint to the regional disciplinary tribunal for healthcare. The disciplinary tribunal assesses whether the doctor has acted contrary to the standards of care that apply to the profession. Possible measures range from a warning to removal from the register.
The disciplinary measures in order of increasing severity are:
- Warning
- Reprimand
- Fine
- Suspension of registration
- Partial suspension of powers
- Erasure from the BIG register
Erasure means that the doctor may no longer use the protected professional title and may no longer perform restricted procedures. This measure is visible in the public register. This system of supervision and sanctioning is one of the reasons why BIG registration provides a concrete guarantee for patients, and not merely a formality.
Why is BIG registration extra relevant in online medical care?
In online medical care, also known as telehealth or e-health, the physical contact that helps support trust during a traditional consultation is missing. BIG registration is extra relevant in that context because it is the only objectively verifiable guarantee that the doctor carrying out a digital assessment is legally authorised and responsible for doing so.
For telehealth in the Netherlands, the same legal requirements apply as for a physical consultation. A doctor who via a digital platform Medical intake assesses and prescribes prescription-only medication must be BIG-registered. Platforms that cannot demonstrate this are operating outside the legal frameworks.
In addition, the risk posed by unregulated providers plays a role. People who search online for medication for sensitive conditions, such as weight issues or erectile dysfunction, sometimes come across foreign websites or providers without medical screening. The lack of a registered medical practitioner in that process means that no medical assessment takes place, no prescription is issued through the proper channels and no disciplinary accountability is possible. That significantly increases the risk of unsuitable or unsafe medication.
For people seeking online medical guidance, the presence of a BIG-registered doctor in the process is therefore one of the most concrete quality indicators available.
How Wellumo works with BIG-registered doctors
Wellumo facilitates medical guidance for people who want to start an online treatment programme for weight loss, erectile dysfunction or hair loss. Every application is assessed by a BIG-registered doctor who decides independently whether a treatment is medically sound. Prescription-only medication is never provided without that assessment.
Here is how the process works at Wellumo:
- The patient completes a medical questionnaire via the intake process.
- A GMC-registered doctor reviews the answers and determines whether a treatment is appropriate.
- Upon approval, the doctor will issue a prescription which is forwarded to the cooperating pharmacy.
- The pharmacy assesses and processes the delivery independently and discreetly.
- Not everyone is eligible; the doctor decides on a person-by-person basis based on the medical situation.
Wellumo works transparently regarding prices, the course of the process and the medical professionals involved. For people who want to know more about the available weight loss treatments or other conditions, or who have questions about the process, more information is available via the contact page. You can start an intake immediately via the online questionnaire.