HKZ vs ISO 9001 in care
HKZ and ISO 9001 are not competitors. The HKZ schemes are built on ISO 9001 and adopt those requirements in full. HKZ adds a care-specific layer on top: client safety, record keeping and links to care legislation. Anyone who holds HKZ therefore also meets the basics of ISO 9001 . The HKZ standards are managed by NEN .
The biggest difference: ISO 9001 fits every sector, while HKZ focuses entirely on care and welfare. On this page you can read when to choose which standard, and when NEN-EN 15224 comes into view as a third option.
The relationship at a glance
Think of HKZ as ISO 9001 plus a care module. The foundations are the same; the care layer is what HKZ adds.
| Component | ISO 9001 | HKZ |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | International quality standard | ISO 9001 + care-specific requirements |
| Application | Every sector | Care and welfare only |
| Recognition | International | Netherlands |
| Manager | ISO / NEN | NEN |
| Client safety | General | Explicitly set out |
| Sector variants | No | Yes, over 30 schemes |
What does HKZ add to ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 requires you to assure quality, but leaves open what that looks like in care. HKZ makes it concrete. The standard explicitly addresses matters that come up in care every day.
- Client and patient safety. How do you prevent and report incidents?
- Record keeping. How do you record the care process for each client?
- Medication safety. How do you ensure safe medication use?
- The primary care process. From intake to completion, in care terms.
- Links to sector legislation. Think of the Wkkgz (Care Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act) and the Jeugdwet (Youth Act).
A mental health care provider that obtains ISO 9001 shows that its processes are sound. With HKZ GGZ it additionally shows that care around the client is safe and traceable.
When do you choose HKZ?
HKZ is the logical choice if your work is entirely in care or welfare and your clients are Dutch.
- Care insurers, health insurers or municipalities ask for a care quality mark.
- You want a standard written in care language that matches your daily work.
- A sector scheme exists that fits your care exactly.
When do you choose ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 suits a number of situations better, including for care organisations.
- You work internationally or with foreign clients.
- Your organisation does more than care, for example secondment or advisory work.
- You want one standard that you can later combine with other ISO standards.
Read how ISO 9001 works in care on ISO 9001 for care institutions.
You do not have to choose between HKZ and ISO 9001 as separate processes. Because HKZ includes ISO 9001, one HKZ process covers both aspects. An additional ISO 9001 certificate is usually not needed.
What about NEN-EN 15224, the European care standard?
There is a third option: NEN-EN 15224. This standard is also an elaboration of ISO 9001 for care, but at European level. The difference from HKZ:
- NEN-EN 15224 is internationally recognised, HKZ only in the Netherlands.
- NEN-EN 15224 is more general; HKZ is more specific per sector.
For an organisation that works only in the Netherlands and has a suitable sector scheme, HKZ is often the most recognisable choice. If you work internationally, NEN-EN 15224 or ISO 9001 may fit better.
HKZ is a Dutch quality mark, not a legal obligation and not an ISO standard. It builds on ISO 9001, but an HKZ certificate is something different from an ISO 9001 certificate. Read more about the HKZ obligation.