What Q-support does

Q-support (Stichting Q-support) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation established in 2013 to provide support, advice, and guidance to Q-fever patients across the Netherlands. It was created in response to the world's largest Q-fever epidemic (2007–2010), which infected an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Dutch residents and caused more than 100 deaths. Q-support assigns registered patients an aftercare advisor (nazorgadviseur) and access to medical advisors (medisch adviseurs) who help patients navigate their symptoms, obtain diagnoses, and access specialized care. Its core services include personalized aftercare and medical advisory delivered through the Solvio online dossier portal, complemented by the QVS Database longitudinal research program with Erasmus MC, the Q-screen regional population screening conducted on behalf of the RIVM, the Leefstijlprogramma (encompassing lifestyle coaching, sleep support, and living-loss counseling), a microbiome-support pilot with the Leefstijl Microbioom Centrum, training and webinars, the Patienten en Ervaringsdeskundigen Platform (PEP) peer-support platform, and four thematic info sheets (Q-koorts Infobladen) for healthcare professionals.

The organization is fully funded by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministerie van VWS), with an initial €10 million grant covering 2013–2018 subsequently extended multiple times. Current subsidy funding runs until the end of 2026, and the Tweede Kamer has passed an amendment to enable patient-support funding in 2027 after the Ministry confirmed there would otherwise be no further funding for Q-support and C-support beyond 2026. All services are provided free of charge to patients; there is no commercial revenue stream. Q-support sits within the parent entity De Beheerstichting Support Postinfectieuze Aandoeningen and operates as a coordinating hub between patients, GPs, specialized hospitals (Radboudumc, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Zuyderland, UMC Utrecht, Bernhoven, MC Leeuwarden, Jeroen Bosch, Elisabeth-Tweesteden), RIVM, Innatoss Laboratories, Q-uestion patient association, Humanitas, municipalities, and the Leefstijl Microbioom Centrum.

Q-support's addressable population is structurally limited: approximately 4,000 QVS patients in the Netherlands (per Sanquin blood bank figures), roughly 500–600 diagnosed chronic Q-fever patients, and an estimated 400–1,600 still-undiagnosed chronic cases. Four out of five QVS patients have stopped working, one in four experiences persistent financial shortage, and 79% indicate lifestyle adaptation can help. The organization does not sell a product; it delivers subsidized care coordination, screening, research, and education under a single-payer government mandate.

Name

Q-support

Legal name

Stichting Q-support

Website

https://q-support.nu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Q-support is a Dutch nonprofit foundation funded by the Ministry of VWS that provides free aftercare, medical advice, screening, and research support to Q-fever patients across the Netherlands, serving an estimated 4,000 QVS and 500–600 chronic Q-fever patients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

's-hertogenbosch

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidy: Q-support is entirely funded by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). Initial 10 million euro funding was provided for 5 years starting 2013, extended multiple times with current funding running until end of 2026. No commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Q-support provides personalized advice, guidance, and support to Q-fever patients across the Netherlands through trained aftercare advisors (nazorgadviseurs) and medical advisors (medisch adviseurs). Core services include help navigating healthcare systems, finding appropriate care, processing long-term symptoms such as QVS (Q-fever Fatigue Syndrome) and Chronic Q-fever, and connecting patients with specialized medical expertise and social support resources. All services are delivered free of charge to patients, funded by a Dutch Ministry of VWS government subsidy.

Product overview

Q-support is a Dutch patient support organization (subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) that provides advice, guidance, and support to Q-fever patients across the Netherlands. Its core offering consists of personalized aftercare and medical advisory services delivered through trained nazorgadviseurs (aftercare advisors) and medisch adviseurs (medical advisors), accessible via the Solvio online dossier portal. Q-support complements these core advisory services with specialized programs: the Q-screen screening program (conducted on behalf of the RIVM to detect undiagnosed Chronic Q-fever), the Leefstijlprogramma encompassing lifestyle coaching, sleep support, and living-loss counseling, and the Leefstijladviezen met Microbioom-ondersteuning pilot. Research activities, including the QVS Database longitudinal study with Erasmus MC, inform the organization's knowledge base. Educational offerings include training sessions, webinars, and the Q-koorts Infobladen publications for healthcare professionals. The Patienten en Ervaringsdeskundigen Platform (PEP) provides peer support. All of these services are tied together through the Kenniswijzer knowledge portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nazorgadvies (Aftercare Advice) Personalized advice and guidance service for Q-fever patients and their families. Registered patients are assigned an aftercare advisor (nazorgadviseur) who helps them navigate symptoms, find appropriate care and support, and understand their medical situation. Free of charge to patients.
• Medisch Advies (Medical Advice) Specialized medical guidance on Q-fever, QVS (Q-fever Fatigue Syndrome), and Chronic Q-fever. Medical advisors help patients understand their diagnoses, treatment options, and connect them with specialist internists-infectiologists.
• Solvio Online Dossier Online dossier platform (Solvio) enabling registered patients to contact their aftercare or medical advisor, schedule appointments, and access personal health records and support documentation digitally.
• QVS Database Onderzoek (QVS Database Research) Longitudinal research program jointly conducted with Erasmus MC, following QVS patients over four years to document health complaints, disease progression, and quality of life impacts, with published annual reports used to improve patient care.
• Q-screen Population Screening Program Regional population screening program executed on behalf of RIVM to identify undiagnosed Chronic Q-fever patients in high-risk areas near former goat farms where abortion waves occurred during the 2007–2010 epidemic. GPs in a 5km radius around affected farms screen their patients for risk factors and invite eligible patients for IFA blood testing.
• Leefstijlcoaching op Maat (Tailored Lifestyle Coaching) Pilot program pairing Q-fever patients with personal lifestyle coaches trained by Q-support's medical advisors. Patients work on self-directed help questions over five coaching sessions covering energy balance, self-care, resilience, and meaning.
• Leefstijladviezen met Microbioom-ondersteuning (Lifestyle Advice with Microbiome Support) Pilot program for QVS patients with chronic abdominal complaints. Participants receive personalized lifestyle and nutrition advice from the Leefstijl Microbioom Centrum, along with microbiome analysis of stool samples and customized pre- and probiotic prescriptions delivered by a contracted pharmacy.
• Leefstijlprogramma (Lifestyle Program) Comprehensive lifestyle program offering structured support across three sub-projects: Levend Verlies (Living Loss) for processing grief over health, work, and future loss; Slaap (Sleep) for guidance on persistent sleep problems; and individual lifestyle coaching. Designed for patients with long-term post-Q-fever symptoms.
• Trainingen en Webinars (Training and Webinars) Training sessions and webinars for Q-fever patients and healthcare professionals covering living with QVS, managing Q-fever, sleep improvement, living loss, and continuing education for care professionals on recognizing and treating Q-fever, QVS, and Chronic Q-fever.
• Q-koorts Infobladen (Q-fever Info Sheets) Four thematic information sheets for healthcare professionals covering General, Medical, Psychosocial, and Work & Income aspects of Q-fever. Based on 12 years of expertise, hundreds of cases, and 4 years of national research, they provide practical advice, referral guidance, and best practices.
• Patienten en Ervaringsdeskundigen Platform (PEP) Structured platform connecting Q-fever patients with experienced peers, facilitating mutual support, shared learning, and community building among people affected by Q-fever across the Netherlands.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55 suspected chronic Q-fever cases identified through Q-screen population study
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Leefstijl Microbioom Centrum (Lifestyle Microbiome Center)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration for a pilot program providing microbiome-based lifestyle advice and personalized pro- and prebiotics to QVS patients with abdominal complaints. Q-support funded the pilot for up to 50 patients. Center provides analysis, personalized recommendations, and follow-up care.
• Nederlands ME/CVS Cohort en Biobank (NMCB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Eight-year research collaboration between Dutch research institutions, medical centers, and patient organizations. QVS patients included in study to understand common mechanisms with ME/CVS and other post-infectious conditions. Q-support helps recruit participants within 50km of Amsterdam.
• RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Q-support executes the Q-screen population study on behalf of RIVM to detect undiagnosed chronic Q-fever patients in high-risk areas. RIVM commissioned and funded this screening initiative. Q-support coordinates with 130 selected general practices in areas around former Q-fever outbreak sites.
• Innatoss LaboratoriescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Innatoss Laboratories conducted the Q-fever IFA testing (gold standard for chronic Q-fever diagnosis) for the Q-screen population study. They have extensive experience with Q-fever, Lyme, and post-COVID testing. Also performs blood tests for individual patients.
• VEZN (Versterking Eerstelijn Zuid-Nederland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Primary care support organization in Southern Netherlands (CZ/VGZ) that co-funded the Q-screen population study alongside Ministry of VWS.
• HumanitasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial organization providing support in various areas including financial guidance. Q-support refers patients to Humanitas for complex financial planning support. Volunteer advisors help patients with pension planning, savings, and investment decisions.
• Radboudumc (Radboud University Medical Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized academic hospital with expertise in chronic Q-fever diagnosis and treatment. Houses key specialists including Chantal Rovers who leads chronic Q-fever care. One of referral centers for Q-screen patients with suspected chronic Q-fever.
• Specialized hospitals networkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of hospitals with specialized Q-fever expertise including: Medisch Spectrum Twente (Corine Delsing), Zuyderland Medical Center (Jacqueline Buijs), UMC Utrecht (Jan-Jelrik Oosterheert), Bernhoven (Kitty Slieker), MC Leeuwarden (Linda Kampschreur), Jeroen Bosch Hospital ('s-Hertogenbosch), and Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital (Tilburg).
• Stichting Begrepen Klachten (Foundation Understood Complaints)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides psychological support and grief counseling for patients dealing with 'living loss' - loss of health, work, roles, and future perspective. Gerda van Hemert conducts 'Levend Verlies' (Living Loss) group sessions for Q-support patients.
• Gemeente 's-HertogenboschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partnership where Wmo-consultants are trained on long-term Q-fever (QVS) and post-COVID impacts. Annual meetings organized for Q-fever patients to interact with municipality and Q-support. Provides exercise programs, household help, and disability parking permits.
• Q-uestion (patient association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient association that advocated for Q-support establishment alongside province of North Brabant. Represents patient interests and works to raise awareness about Q-fever risks and prevention.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• C-support: Direct Dutch sister organization providing patient support for post-COVID conditions under the same parent foundation (De Beheerstichting Support Postinfectieuze Aandoeningen). Operates with identical model: government-subsidized, free patient advice, aftercare advisors, lifestyle programs, and shares the Kenniswijzer knowledge portal with Q-support.
• Lymevereniging: Dutch patient association for Lyme disease, another post-infectious condition with chronic fatigue overlap. Operates similar advocacy and patient support model; uses Innatoss Laboratories for diagnostics (same partner as Q-support), indicating direct operational parallels.
• Hiv Vereniging: Dutch HIV patient association providing peer support, advocacy, and healthcare navigation for people living with a chronic post-infectious condition. Comparable community-based support and disease-specific advocacy model.

Peers

• Stichting辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩辩:

Broad incumbents

• Patiëntenfederatie Nederland: Umbrella Dutch patient federation representing ~200 patient organizations. While not disease-specific, it provides the broader patient advocacy, healthcare navigation support, and policy engagement infrastructure that Q-support operates within at a specialized level.
• Longfonds (Lung Foundation Netherlands): Major Dutch patient advocacy and research foundation for lung diseases, including Q-fever-related chronic pulmonary complications. Larger scale, broader mandate, but provides comparable patient support, advocacy, and research-funding activities in an adjacent disease area.

Emerging players

• ME/CVS Vereniging: Dutch patient association for ME/CFS, a closely related post-infectious fatigue condition. Q-support participates in the NMCB ME/CVS cohort study, indicating direct research overlap and shared patient populations with chronic fatigue syndromes.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCG5JToMybtbTLpV8dyubWsw
• Facebookfacebook.com/QsupportNL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/q-support

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Q-support