State Secretary Tielen: Womens health requires different diagnostics, different treatment, and different medication. I wish women would live as long and as healthily as men. The entire society has a role to play in this. That is why it is fantastic that today about 200 parties not only pay attention to this topic but also determine what they themselves can contribute.

Chair Jet Bussemaker: Half of the population consists of women. That is not a small group. It should be natural to structurally and appropriately align with their care needs.

ZonMw Chairman Arfan Ikram: ZonMw has been working on womens health since 2012 and wants to continue working with field parties on the much-needed knowledge development. Men and women are equal but not identical.

Symptoms Often Missed

Women suffer much longer from misunderstood or underestimated complaints than the average man. This can involve problems related to menstruation, pelvic floor issues, or mental health. Late or incorrect diagnoses lead to personal suffering and societal costs due to higher healthcare expenses, absenteeism, and less participation. Faster recognition and appropriate care are estimated to yield at least €7.6 billion in benefits annually, according to earlier research.

From Strategy to Action

The work conference marks the start of the National Work Agenda on Womens Health, stemming from the National Strategy 25-30. The strategy emphasizes that womens health goes beyond healthcare alone. It concerns physical, mental, and social health in all life stages. With the Work Agenda, the government and involved parties want to translate this vision into concrete actions and clear ambitions for a healthy future for women in the Netherlands.

Broad Coalition of Signatories

With the covenant, parties agree to keep womens health permanently on the agenda, strengthen existing initiatives, share knowledge and data, and start new actions together. These agreements will be bundled into one joint Work Agenda, which will be published this spring. The first organizations already signed during the Work Conference, with a specific promise about their own contribution. It is expected that various organizations will follow this example in the coming months, leading up to the Work Agenda.

Read more information about the covenant Together in action for better womens health.