Netherlands Calls for Structured Healthcare Innovation at Annual Symposium
The Hague, Friday, 13 June 2025.
Dutch experts stress the importance of systematic healthcare innovation over isolated pilot projects to enhance patient care, urging collaborative governance and sustainable strategies for meaningful progress.
The Call for Systematic Innovation
During this week’s symposium in the Tweede Kamer, experts underscored the need to move beyond isolated pilot projects towards structured healthcare innovation. The current Dutch healthcare system is under significant pressure from demographic changes and a persistent staff shortage, necessitating strategic solutions [1]. Renowned TU Delft researcher David Abbink highlighted the importance of not only adopting technological solutions but also making healthcare work more attractive and sustainable [2].
Collaborative Governance and Shared Responsibility
At the symposium, the prevailing sentiment was that innovation needs to be more than just technological advancement. There was a strong call for shared governance and responsibility among various stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and technology developers. Abbink argued for collaborative structures that go beyond sectoral boundaries to ensure genuine progression in healthcare innovation [1][2].
Paving the Way for a National Expertise Center
One of the suggested paths forward is the establishment of a National Expertisecentrum voor Fysiek Werk (National Expertise Center for Physical Work). The center aims to unify different sectors and disciplines, fostering a comprehensive approach to the future of work and ensuring innovations genuinely address workplace challenges [2]. The first step towards this initiative is scheduled for a joint meeting on 17 September 2025, at the TU Delft Campus, which will serve as a platform for collaboration among professionals, policymakers, and researchers [1].
Strategic Focus and Future Directions
The symposium also stressed the strategic focus required to address whether the emphasis should be on productivity or the quality of labor. Investments in technological developments, vocational training, and a vibrant startup culture are seen as pivotal [1]. This strategic focus aligns closely with recent national reports that call for holistic and sustainable approaches to innovation in the Dutch healthcare sector [2].