The Secretary of State for Youth, Prevention, and Sports presented the Development Agenda for Population Research to the House of Representatives on March 20. The agenda, created collaboratively by RIVM and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), outlines ambitions up to 2035. It is an important step in the further development of population studies and screenings in the Netherlands.
The development agenda describes how population studies contribute to better public health by detecting diseases early. By anticipating social and technological developments, population studies remain current and effective. The coming years will focus on three central ambitions.
- Achieve greater health gains: Innovative techniques and screening methods will detect and treat diseases earlier, leading to better treatment outcomes and less burden on healthcare.
- Promote health equity: Targeted communication and a more accessible offering will lower the threshold for participation. This way, everyone who wishes to can join.
- Responsible management of uncertainties and scarcity: By making informed choices regarding the allocation of resources and manpower, the quality of population studies is ensured.
Realizing Ambitions
To realize these ambitions, the development agenda encourages innovations, such as new screening methods, tailored screening, and more targeted communication. There will also be more intense collaboration with chain partners, and citizens will be involved in the development of policy and practice.
In the coming years, VWS Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) and RIVM will work together with stakeholders on the elaboration and implementation of the development agenda. This ensures that population studies contribute to a healthy future for everyone in the Netherlands.
Read the full Development Agenda for Population Research here (external link).