The RIVM publishes today the first report on the progress of the Healthy and Active Living Agreement (GALA). This is an agreement between the Ministry of VWS Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport), municipalities, GGD Municipal Public Health Service (Municipal Public Health Service), and health insurers. The aim of GALA is to encourage people to live healthier and more actively. Agreements have been made to work locally and regionally on seven health themes. The RIVM has been asked to monitor the developments of this agreement with the so-called GALA monitor.
The first report shows that GALA has provided an impetus for collaboration: working together on health has become more urgent and natural. The pace at which regions are working on this varies; this often depends on what has already been done in terms of collaboration and prevention. The GALA monitor shows that there is uncertainty about how long budget will remain for the plans from GALA and that it is difficult to connect the health themes. Concrete effects of GALA on health are not expected in the short term, as it takes time to improve health. The RIVM emphasizes that the activities agreed upon in GALA must continue longer than the agreement lasts. The next publication of the GALA monitor is expected in June 2025.
Fall Prevention Monitor
Along with the GALA monitor, the RIVM is also publishing the Fall Prevention Monitor today. This concerns the Chain Approach to Fall Prevention that was established in 2023. It is one of the five chain approaches within GALA. The central government, municipalities, and health insurers are collaborating to identify elderly people at greater risk of falling and to reduce the risk of accidents. The RIVM has been asked to monitor the progress of this approach and report on it annually.
More Attention to Fall Prevention by Municipalities
The report shows that more and more municipalities are offering fall prevention programs to people aged 65 and older. A total of 271 municipalities (82%) have indicated that they have started implementing the Chain Approach to Fall Prevention. In 265 municipalities, at least one of the three recognized fall courses is offered to elderly people living at home with a fall risk. In fall prevention, elderly people learn, among other things, to train their muscles and balance to prevent falls. Municipalities and health insurers are working with various health and welfare parties to identify which elderly people are at greater risk of falling and thus benefit from fall prevention.
Opportunities to Improve Implementation
Despite the fact that the Fall Prevention Monitor shows that many places are working on fall prevention, there are still opportunities to improve implementation. A key issue is the discussion about which professionals can assess fall risk factors (general practitioners or physiotherapists/ergotherapists). To further advance the implementation of the Chain Approach to Fall Prevention, it is important that solutions are worked on collaboratively to eliminate the bottlenecks.
Interested in regional data? Check out this page about GALA (external link) and this page about the Chain Approach to Fall Prevention (external link) on the website regiobeeld.nl