Geographical Locations - Netherlands

• (Statistical) Number of Inhabitants per Doctor: 400
• CIA World Factbook : Netherlands

Organisations and Networks

UN and Multinational

• WHO
  - WHO Country Profile - Netherlands
  - WHO - Tobacco control: Country Profile - Netherlands
  - WHO - Environmental Burden of Disease: Country Profile – Netherlands
  - WHO – Progress in the Prevention of Injuries in the WHO European Region: Netherlands
• WHO Regional Office for Europe (EURO) in Copenhagen (Denmark)
• WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Healthy Cities - at the University of Maastricht

Government

• Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
• Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports
• Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment
• GGD - Dutch Association of Municipal or Regional Public Health Services
• Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau
  "A goverment agency doing independent scientific research. It covers all areas of government policy as far as social aspects are involved. The main fields studied are health, welfare, social security, labour market and education, and especially the interfaces between these different social fields"

Non-Government

• Dutch Association for Environmental Medicine
• Vereniging voor Volksgezondheid en Wetenschap
• Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg Nederland (Mental Health Netherlands)
• International Information Centre and Archives for the Women's Movement
  "The national centre of expertise in the Netherlands, providing information on the position of women and women's studies. The IIAV's uniqueness and comprehensiveness dates back to 1935. The IIAV preserves the cultural legacy of women in the past and the present and provides actual information on the position of women"
• The Network: Community Partnerships for Health through Innovative Education, Service, and Research
  Located at the University of Maastricht, a global association of institutions for education of health professionals committed to contribute, through education and research, to the improvement and sustainment of health in the communities they serve
• Netherlands Institute for Migration Studies
  "I'MI is a non-profit and non-governmental organization which is active in improving the situation of Migrants nationally and internationally. I'MI is also involved in organizing activities for youth from all over the world....The target group of I'MI is mainly composed of foreign workers and students, asylum seekers, refugees, displaced people, transients and people from former Dutch colonies. "

Academic Institutions

• Amsterdam School for Social Science Research
• Erasmus University, Rotterdam
  - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
  -- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  -- Department of Public Health
  -- Institute of Health Policy and Management
  -- Netherland Institute of Health Sciences
• Free University of Amsterdam
  - Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  - Institute for Environmental Studies
  - Sociologie & Sociale Gerontologie
  - Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam
• Hogeschool van Amsterdam
  - Instituut Food Management en Research (FMR)
• Netherlands Institute for Care and Welfare (NIZW)
• Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NIGZ)
• Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care (NIVEL)
• Netherlands Research School on Women's Studies
• Netherlands School of Public Health (Utrecht)
• Vilans Kenniscentrum Ouderen
• RIVM - National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven
• Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam
  - Health Care and Disease Control
  "A multidisciplinary group of experts concerned with international health, which contributes to the improvement of the health of people in low- and middle income countries" TNO Centre for Ageing Research - "main access point for all your questions on seniors and ageing. Focal points are: Housing and Care, Mobility, Nutrition, Health, Time Allocation, Financial Security, Safety"
• TNO Prevention and Health
  "To promote the quality and number of healthy years of human life. Research and consulting focus on improving health and health care throughout all phases of life"
• University of Maastricht
  - Department of Epidemiology
  - Centre for Medical Sociology and Health Policy
  - Gezondheidswetenschappen - (English) Department of Health Promotion and Health Education
• University of Groningen
  - Wetenschapswinkel Geneeskunde

National Policy and Related Documents

• Learning from our neighbours – Cross-national inspiration for Dutch public health policies: smoking, alcohol, overweight, depression, health inequalities, youth, screening
  "This [2008] report was compiled at the request of the [Netherlands] Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to gain more insight into the possibilities for improving health in the Netherlands, by looking at policies in other countries. Its main purpose is to gain inspiration, find out where we can learn from other countries and where there may still be unused chances for Dutch public health policy. It will enable us to take a fresh look at our own policies. This report is mainly looking for inspiration, opportunities and possibilities that can arise from an international orientation towards health policy. To obtain a good impression of the public health policies in other countries, the first section explains what is understood by public health and how we have to look at the policies in other countries (Section 1.2). Section 1.3 describes the scope and the method that was used. This general introduction to the report ends with a summary (Section 1.4) of the rest of the report, namely the seven thematic chapters that discuss smoking, alcohol, overweight, depression, health inequalities, youth and screening."

Reports, Guidelines, and Projects

• Chances for Change: Dutch measures to improve the global distribution of health personnel
  "Shortages of health personnel are experienced worldwide. They exist in developing countries as well as in developed countries. When one country’s demand exceeds its supply of health personnel, a ‘pull’ is exerted for migration flows from other countries. This pull is not shaped by the burden of disease in a country, but by unequally distributed financial resources for health systems. Consequently, migration flows are directed towards more affluent countries and regions. This increases the global maldistribution of health personnel and inequities in health." [Wemos Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dutch Alliance for Human Resources for Health, 2011]
• Dutch Doctors and Their Patients — Effects of Health Care Reform in the Netherlands
  "Although the Dutch system provided high-quality care at relatively low cost,1 many believed that the insurance system offered too little choice, spread the financial burden unevenly, and did little to control increasing health care expenditures. To address these problems, a new statutory health insurance system was introduced in January 2006. Under this system, the public health insurers have been privatized or have merged with private health insurers, and all citizens are required to purchase a basic package of essential health care services, along with 'own-risk coverage' (essentially an annual deductible) of €150 each year. The premium for this package is set by insurers in competition with one another, but they must accept all applicants without selecting risks. People with low incomes receive a subsidy for the basic insurance, and there is an option to purchase an additional package to cover nonvital extras. Long-term institutional and nursing home care is covered by mandatory special insurance, with an income-dependent premium." [New England Journal of Medicine, 357; 24: 2424-2426 (December 13, 2007)]
• Fish consumption and its motives in households with versus without self-reported medical history of CVD: A consumer survey from five European countries
  Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the cross-cultural differences in the frequency of fish intake and in motivations for fish consumption between people from households with (CVD+) or without (CVD-) medical history of cardiovascular disease, using data obtained in five European countries. Methods: A cross-sectional consumer survey was carried out in November-December 2004 with representative household samples from Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland and Spain. The sample consisted of 4,786 respondents, aged 18–84 and who were responsible for food purchasing and cooking in the household. Results: Individuals from households in the CVD+ group consumed fish more frequently in Belgium and in Denmark as compared to those in the CVD- group. The consumption of fatty fish, which is the main sources of omega-3 PUFA associated with prevention of cardiovascular diseases, was on the same level for the two CVD groups in the majority of the countries, except in Belgium where CVD+ subjects reported to eat fatty fish significantly more frequently than CVD- subjects. All respondents perceived fish as a very healthy and nutritious food product. Only Danish consumers reported a higher subjective and objective knowledge related to nutrition issues about fish. In the other countries, objective knowledge about fish was on a low level, similar for CVD+ as for CVD- subjects, despite a higher claimed use of medical information sources about fish among CVD+ subjects. Conclusion: Although a number of differences between CVD- and CVD+ subjects with respect to their frequency of fish intake are uncovered, the findings suggest that fish consumption traditions and habits – rather than a medical history of CVD – account for large differences between the countries, particularly in fatty fish consumption. This study exemplifies the need for nutrition education and more effective communication about fish, not only to the people facing chronic diseases, but also to the broader public. European consumers are convinced that eating fish is healthy, but particular emphasis should be made on communicating benefits especially from fatty fish consumption. [author abstract] [BMC Public Health 2008, 8: 306]
• From genital steam baths to laxatives: Plant use amongst the Surinamese community in the Netherlands
  Traditional medicine is an important part of human healthcare in developing countries and more and more in developed countries. The traditional knowledge about medicinal plants has been neglected by the first world countries for a long period. The Surinamese traditional medicine is called ‘Oso dresi’ or literally translated, home-used medicine. It makes use of Surinamese plants, native and introduced species. The Surinamese traditional healthcare is divided in home-used folk medicine and shamanistic medicine, called ‘Winti’, which is based essentially on magic, spiritualism and sorcery. When Surinamese people migrated to the Netherlands, they brought Winti and Oso dresi with them. Traditional Surinamese herbal medicines are used by the Surinamese community in the Netherlands to contribute to their health and overall wellbeing. The used plants are bought in Surinamese shops mainly in the big cities of the Netherlands. However, it is unclear to what extent Surinamese immigrants make use of traditional Surinamese herbal medicine. The demand for medicinal plants among Surinamese immigrants is expected to focus on the treatment of typical migratory ailments and culture-bound diseases. The results show that the shortcomings of the official Dutch healthcare system form a niche for Surinamese medical plant shops and healers. The shops provide on the one hand a supply of plants and treatment for predominantly cultural bound habits, complaints, ailments and diseases and migratory disorders on the other hand. Therefore, these shops should be more appreciated for their complementary function by the official healthcare system now and in the future. [thesis summary] [Master of Science thesis, National Herbarium of the Nederlands, University of Utrecht, May 2007 – March 2008]
• Patient safety in Dutch hospitals
  In various studies outside the Netherlands, it has been shown that a substantial number of patients suffer from some kind of harm during their treatment in hospital. The incidence of these so-called adverse events varies between 2.9% and 16.6%; it is estimated that between over a quarter and a half of these are considered to be avoidable. Preventable adverse events can be considered to be a starting point for interventions to increase patient safety. In response to this, a study was initiated in Dutch hospitals investigating the nature and extent of adverse events and their causes. Lessons learnt will be discussed within the European Research Network on Quality in Health Care (ENQual), where researchers and policy makers come together to exchange knowledge and experiences. Two important goals of the Dutch study are to reach a consensus on basic concepts and to improve research methodology. An unintended event resulting in harm caused by healthcare is called an adverse event in international literature. Preventable adverse events are especially important for prevention, in these cases the harm can be attributed to unintended events in the care process, caused by insufficient action according to professional standards and failures within the care system. Most adverse events, caused as they may seem by human action or failing to act at first sight, are often partly caused by a care process that has not been properly organized. Uniform concepts are needed in order to facilitate European comparisons, which would allow, for example, the comparison of Dutch research results with those from other countries, and the identification of specific concepts. One of the six action areas of the WHO’s World Alliance for Patient Safety is the development of a 'patient safety taxonomy'. [author abstract] [Italian Journal of Public Health - Year 3, Volume 2, Number 3-4, pp.59-63, 2005]
• Private Health Insurance in the Netherlands: A Case Study
  "Private health insurance (PHI) is the sole source of primary health coverage for a third of the Netherlands’ population earning above a set income threshold. Social insurance (together with limited public (tax-based financing) is the main source of health coverage for the majority of the population. Most socially insured also purchase supplementary private health coverage. All citizens are eligible for a system of coverage for long-term care and care for the chronically ill. Thus, in the Netherlands, the source of health financing is determined according to the category of health risk, type of illness, as well as income level. Decisions have been made allocating the cost of more expensive long-term care and coverage of high-risk individuals and persons earning below a set level, to social or public insurance, or to PHI subsidised by a broader pool." [OECD Health Working Papers No.18 (DELSA/ELSA/WD/HEA(2004)9), 16 December 2004]
• Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: lessons from the Netherlands and Germany
  Objectives: We examined the public health consequences of unsafe and inconvenient walking and bicycling conditions in American cities to suggest improvements based on successful policies in The Netherlands and Germany. Methods: Secondary data from national travel and crash surveys were used to compute fatality trends from 1975 to 2001 and fatality and injury rates for pedestrians and cyclists in The Netherlands, Germany, and the United States in 2000. Results: American pedestrians and cyclists were much more likely to be killed or injured than were Dutch and German pedestrians and cyclists, both on a per-trip and on a per-kilometer basis. Conclusions: A wide range of measures are available to improve the safety of walking and cycling in American cities, both to reduce fatalities and injuries and to encourage walking and cycling. [author abstract] [Am J Public Health. 2003; 93: 1509–1516]
• Public health economics of vaccines in the Netherlands: methodological issues and applications
  Aim: This article seeks to highlight the methodological issues involved in the public health economics of vaccines in the Netherlands and the ensuing implications for immunisation policy. Subjects and methods: We review and analyse the role of health economics (and especially cost-effectiveness issues) in the decision-making process of the Dutch (1) Drugs Reimbursement System and (2) National Immunisation Programme. Different types of health-economic analyses are illustrated by the examples of meningococcal C, pneumococcal, and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines. Results: The role of health economics has recently increased in importance in Dutch public health decision-making concerning vaccines. The choice of vaccine strategy against meningococcus C, the shift in favour of introducing pneumococcal vaccine, and the prolonged decision on the reimbursement for HPV vaccine were all related to the health-economic component in the recommendation process. Conclusion: The role of health economics is growing in decision-making regarding the reimbursement of new therapeutic and prophylactic products. Vaccines, like drugs, will have increasingly to prove their cost-effectiveness if manufacturers are to lead their product not only from phases I to IV, but also through to implementation as part of national immunisation policies covered within national reimbursement systems. [author abstract] [Journal of Public Health (2008) 16: 267–273]
• Reporting of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands: descriptive study
  Background: An important principle underlying the Dutch Euthanasia Act is physicians' responsibility to alleviate patients' suffering. The Dutch Act states that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are not punishable if the attending physician acts in accordance with criteria of due care. These criteria concern the patient's request, the patient's suffering (unbearable and hopeless), the information provided to the patient, the presence of reasonable alternatives, consultation of another physician and the applied method of ending life. To demonstrate their compliance, the Act requires physicians to report euthanasia to a review committee. We studied which arguments Dutch physicians use to substantiate their adherence to the criteria and which aspects attract review committees' attention. Methods: We examined 158 files of reported euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide cases that were approved by the review committees. We studied the physicians' reports and the verdicts of the review committees by using a checklist. Results: Physicians reported that the patient's request had been well-considered because the patient was clear-headed (65%) and/or had repeated the request several times (23%). Unbearable suffering was often substantiated with physical symptoms (62%), function loss (33%), dependency (28%) or deterioration (15%). In 35%, physicians reported that there had been alternatives to relieve patients' suffering which were refused by the majority. The nature of the relationship with the consultant was sometimes unclear: the consultant was reported to have been an unknown colleague (39%), a known colleague (21%), otherwise (25%), or not clearly specified in the report (24%). Review committees relatively often scrutinized the consultation (41%) and the patient's (unbearable) suffering (32%); they had few questions about possible alternatives (1%). Conclusion: Dutch physicians substantiate their adherence to the criteria in a variable way with an emphasis on physical symptoms. The information they provide is in most cases sufficient to enable adequate review. Review committees' control seems to focus on (unbearable) suffering and on procedural issues. [author abstract] [BMC Medical Ethics 2009, 10:18]
• The Swiss and Dutch Health Insurance Systems: Universal Coverage and Regulated Competitive Insurance Markets
  As the United States resumes debate over options for achieving universal health coverage, policymakers are once again examining insurance systems in other industrialized countries. More recent attention has focused on countries that combine universal coverage with private insurance and regulated market competition. Switzerland and the Netherlands, in particular, have drawn attention for their use of individual mandates combined with public oversight of insurance markets. This paper provides an overview of the Swiss and Dutch insurance systems, which embody some of the same concepts that have guided health reforms adopted in Massachusetts and considered by other states and by federal policymakers. The two systems have many features in common: an individual mandate, standardized basic benefits, a tightly regulated insurance market, and funding schemes that make coverage affordable for low- and middle-income families. Differences include degree of centralization, basis of competition among insurers, availability of managed care, and reliance on patient cost-sharing to influence care-seeking behavior. [author abstract] [The Commonwealth Fund, January 2009]
• Using Intervention Mapping to develop a programme to prevent sexually transmittable infections, including HIV, among heterosexual migrant men
  Background: There is little experience with carefully developed interventions in the HIV/STI prevention field aimed at adult heterosexual target groups in the Netherlands. The ability to apply intervention development protocols, like Intervention Mapping, in daily practice outside of academia, is a matter of concern. An urgent need also exists for interventions aimed at the prevention of STI in migrant populations in the Netherlands. This article describes the theory and evidence based development of HIV/STI prevention interventions by the Municipal Public Health Service Rotterdam Area (MPHS), the Netherlands, for heterosexual migrant men with Surinamese, Dutch-Caribbean, Cape Verdean, Turkish and Moroccan backgrounds. Methods: First a needs assessment was carried out. Then, a literature review was done, key figures were interviewed and seven group discussions were held. Subsequently, the results were translated into specific objectives ("change objectives") and used in intervention development for two subgroups: men with an Afro-Caribbean background and unmarried men with a Turkish and Moroccan background. A matrix of change objectives was made for each subgroup and suitable theoretical methods and practical strategies were selected. Culturally-tailored interventions were designed and were pre-tested among the target groups. Results: This development process resulted in two interventions for specific subgroups that were appreciated by both the target groups and the migrant prevention workers. The project took place in collaboration with a university center, which provided an opportunity to get expert advice at every step of the Intervention Mapping process. At relevant points of the development process, migrant health educators and target group members provided advice and feedback on the draft intervention materials. Conclusion: This intervention development project indicates that careful well-informed intervention development using Intervention Mapping is feasible in the daily practice of the MPHS, provided that sufficient time and expertise on this approach is available. Further research should test the effectiveness of these interventions. [author abstract] [BMC Public Health 2007, 7:141]

Educational Resources

• CDC - Travel Information : Western Europe
• Dutch National Atlas of Public Health
  "A web-based Atlas that maps the regional distribution of health related matters. It not only includes information on the occurrence of curtain health-issues – such as epidemics, vaccinations or obesity – but also on the geographic spread of related variables." Also in Dutch.
• Dutch National Compass of Public Health
  "The National Public Health Compass is the gateway to information about health and disease, risk factors, care and prevention in the Netherlands… The National Public Health Compass is meant for professionals who are active in the field of public health, like policy makers at the ministry of health, regional and local authorities, municipalities, health care providers, patients, consumer organisations, insurers, researchers and health educators."
• EXPOLIS
  Air Pollution Exposure Distributions of Adult Urban Populations in Europe, Bilthoven
• Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde
• Tijdschrift Gezondheidsvoorlichting
• Trimbos-instituut - Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, several fact sheets of different drugs are available in English
• WWW Collectieve Preventie Volksgezondheid en andere GGD taken
• Zorg + Welzijn