A digital, data driven approach for differentiated prevention (Acronym: D4P)

This innovative project combines healthcare and socioeconomic data to identify groups underserved by current prevention and care strategies. A public-private partnership consisting of healthcare organisations, academic institutions, patient representatives, and data specialists has been established to collaboratively translate these unique data insights into tailored, practical solutions for better healthcare and prevention in the Netherlands. 

Effective healthcare and prevention are crucial for a healthy society. Despite significant progress, certain groups remain underserved by existing healthcare measures, leading to preventable illnesses and ongoing health inequalities. In the case of HIV, for instance, about 400 new infections still occur each year in the Netherlands, and many individuals are diagnosed too late. Late diagnosis can cause significant health complications for patients and lead to higher healthcare costs. Therefore, innovative data-driven approaches that can effectively identify and support underserved populations in healthcare and disease prevention are urgently required. 

This project leverages a unique combination of existing clinical HIV cohort data – covering nearly all individuals living with HIV in the Netherlands – and extensive socioeconomic data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). By linking and analysing these datasets, the project aims to identify specific populations at increased risk and support targeted preventive measures and care strategies. Importantly, healthcare providers, public health experts, and community stakeholders will be actively involved in translating scientific insights into practical interventions. 

Key deliverables of the project include a validated data infrastructure, scientific knowledge about HIV prevention and care, and practical recommendations for healthcare professionals and policymakers. Ultimately, this innovative approach aims to significantly reduce health inequalities and position the Netherlands as a global leader in personalised prevention and healthcare strategies. 

The aim of the D4P project was to use healthcare and socioeconomic data to enable better, more personalised healthcare and prevention strategies, using HIV as a proof of concept. A new public-private partnership was formed, involving healthcare providers, researchers, data experts and patient representatives, who collaboratively developed and tested new ways to reach underserved groups in the Netherlands with targeted interventions. 

Although the number of new HIV infections in the Netherlands has steadily declined, about 400 new cases are still diagnosed each year. Many people are diagnosed too late, leading to avoidable health complications and higher costs for individuals and society. The project responded to the urgent need for innovative approaches, as traditional methods were insufficient in identifying and supporting people who remained undiagnosed or untreated. 

The D4P approach involved combining clinical data from nearly all individuals living with HIV in the Netherlands with detailed socioeconomic data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This data-driven method revealed important insights, such as higher GP visits among women before diagnosis, and increased mental healthcare use among men who have sex with men (MSM). Importantly, the project showed that directly discussing these data insights with healthcare providers and policymakers was more effective than simply presenting them through a data dashboard. 

The project successfully provided clear, actionable recommendations for targeted interventions, which are now being discussed with general practitioners, mental health professionals and public health experts. Beyond the scope of this project, investment cases are also being developed to encourage policymakers and healthcare insurers to adopt this new, data-driven approach more widely. Overall, the results of the D4P project provided concrete tools and insights to improve healthcare access, reduce health inequalities, and strengthen prevention strategies – not only for HIV, but potentially for other diseases as well. 

More information about Stichting HIV Monitoring