NIVEL, the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, contributes to the body of scientific knowledge about the provision and use of health care services. For this purpose NIVEL carries out research activities on the national and international level on the entanglement between: the need for health care (health status, life style, social environment, norms and attitudes), the supply of health care (volume, capacity, organisational structure, quality and efficacy) and health care policy (legislation, regulations, financing and insurance). NIVEL’s research capacity and expertise are used by organisations, such as governmental bodies (Dutch and foreign ministries, European Commission), scientific research organisations, and organisations representing health care professionals, health care consumers, and health care insurance compagnies.