Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement

The Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement, widely known as CBO, was a leading non-profit organization in the Netherlands dedicated to the advancement of healthcare quality and patient safety. Founded in 1979 by the Dutch Association of Medical Specialists and the Dutch Hospital Association, CBO specialized in the development of evidence-based clinical guidelines and the implementation of quality management systems. The institute played a central role in professionalizing peer review and standardizing medical protocols across the Dutch healthcare system. Although the organization ceased its primary operations in the mid-2010s following financial restructuring, its methodologies and guideline development responsibilities were largely transitioned to the Federation of Medical Specialists (FMS) and other national health authorities.