Abstract

Healthcare is under tremendous pressure. One possible solution that may contribute is to take ‘health’ as the starting point rather than ‘illness’. In other words, focusing on how we can keep people healthy for as long as possible, on what people can still do and on what makes their lives meaningful. Hence, it is not just about physical health but also about the mental aspect.

A broad health concept is being adopted by an increasing number of parties in the Netherlands, including healthcare and welfare organisations, local authorities and Municipal Public Health Services. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) previously charted opportunities and obstacles. This time round, it has analysed how three regions in the Netherlands are adapting their way of working to these broad health concepts. The regions are the province of Flevoland, the municipality of Texel and the Leidsche Rijn-Vleuten de Meern district in Utrecht.

The organisations involved are enthusiastic about this broad perspective on health but still find themselves faced with obstacles. These obstacles include a lack of funding, staff and methods to measure results. Adopting a broad view of health is also a very time-consuming process. Consequently, organisations need to learn from each other’s experiences. Healthcare professionals have noticed that due to a broad view on health people adopt a healthier lifestyle and be given a greater degree of control over their own health. This boosts job satisfaction for healthcare professionals too.

The broad view of health can facilitate collaboration between organisations and professionals from different disciplines, such as healthcare and welfare. Operating from the perspective of a shared goal, they will find it easier to organise activities to foster citizens’ health. Looking beyond physical health will ensure that greater attention is given to factors affecting people’s well-being, such as loneliness or financial problems.

The RIVM suggests that seven elements will enhance the chances of success: commitment from all parties involved; a clear focus within the approach; professionals from different organisations knowing and understanding one another; organisations working based on what is needed by and possibilities for citizens; the opportunity for organisations to adopt a broad perspective within the compass of their work; sufficient funding; and embedding healthy lifestyle more in society, for example in education.