A Unique Collaboration for a Healthier Netherlands- A Disease-Overarching Approach
A society in which people live longer in good health, receive the best possible treatment and can optimally participate. These are in sum the ambitions of the various health foundations in the Netherlands. To achieve this overarching mission, 24 health foundations have joined forces in the Association of Collaborating Health Foundations (SGF). ‘With this, the foundations focus on overarching themes that are important for each foundation, such as prevention, patient participation, immunological research and innovation without experimental animals’, explains Mark Monsma (director SGF). ‘By centring our collective effort on these themes, we create more impact.’
The SGF works on these overarching themes in several areas. In the area of Healthy lifestyle and healthy living environment, the health foundations are jointly investing in the programme Healthy Generation. ‘Our ambition is that in 2040, Dutch youth will have the best physical, mental and social health in the world. And that is not because we want to be the best at all costs but because young people deserve our maximum effort when it comes to their healthy development’, says Monsma. The foundations are also investing in disease-overarching subjects within various research programmes.
‘The research programme Human Measurement Models is contributing to more effective human health research that is less dependent on the use of experimental animals. A unique collaboration has also arisen for highly promising immunological research’, states Monsma. ‘A new development is that we are in the process of shaping a programme that will concentrate on improving the quality of life with and for people with a chronic condition where the strength of the social environment takes centre stage.’ The SGF is also focusing on making knowledge and developments about various subjects available and keeping this up-to-date.
'The PPP Allowance was an important boost to collaborate. This is not only due to the financial contribution but also because the scheme helps us all to be on the same wavelength.’ - Mark Monsma, director Association of Collaborating Health Foundations (SGF)
The PPP Allowance is indispensable for the development of the SGF. ‘It was an important boost to collaborate. Not just with the various foundations, but with the entire sector and definitely with industry too’, says Monsma. ‘This is not only due to the financial contribution but, more important, because it helps us all to be on the same wavelength.’ The programme immunology is a fine example of the success of the PPP Allowance, asserts Monsma.
‘The PPP Allowance works as a sort of multiplier. The foundations and industry contributed extra funding in addition to the PPP Allowance, as a result of which 15 million euros became available for research into the immune system. This programme has led to the initiative ImmuneHealthXL in which the various research initiatives collaborate to realise their common goal: to realise better treatments for the patient.’
On the journey towards a healthier Netherlands, the SGF is supported by a wide diversity of donors, experiential experts and young people, and a large network in the health field, politics and industry. Health~Holland is also a proud collaborative partner of SGF. ‘The collaboration with Health~Holland is immensely valuable’, states Monsma. ‘Together, we are working on the challenging missions of Health & Care and we are investing in large-scale and disease-overarching research. I hope that we will continue to collaborate in the future so that we can further shape our joint objectives in the interest of all Dutch citizens.’
Read our full Update here.
