Inspiration session Healthy Society with state, province and municipality delegations

The realization of a Healthy Society was the focus of attention during a working visit by leading policy makers from the national government, province and municipality of Leiden on 30 March. The topics discussed included trans-domain collaboration and the connection between science and policy to contribute to a healthier society.

The delegation consisted of representatives of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, including Secretary-General Marcelis Boereboom, and representatives of the Municipality of Leiden, including Mayor Henri Lenferink and Alderman Paul Dirkse. The Province of South Holland was represented by Meindert Stolk, member of the Provincial Executive. Also present were Paul Wouters, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Leiden University and David de Glint, Managing Director of Medical Delta.

Interactive map

The visitors were first given a white coat by host TNO for a tour of the lab. Prof. Dr. Andrea Evers, Scientific Leader at the Healthy Society Hub and Scientific Coordinator Dr Sandra van Dijk presented an overview of the Healthy Society ambitions that dovetail perfectly with the policy goals formulated by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. To connect science and policy, the Healthy Society Hub is for example building an interactive map that brings together health initiatives with available knowledge about what is needed where in the Province of Zuid-Holland. One of the key messages is that a healthy society requires innovative forms of collaboration, which look beyond the boundaries of disciplines and domains and listen carefully to what is of value to citizens.

Education and care

A specific example is the cooperation of the Kenniscentrum Angst en Stress bij Jeugd (Knowledge Centre on Anxiety and Stress in Youth), in which scientists of Leiden University support schools in reducing stress among secondary school students. This links the domains of education and care. In addition, it was explained how the Knowledge Centre Psychology and Economic Behaviour of Leiden University conducts research into the influence of financial stress on (unhealthy) choices. This can build a bridge between the social domain and healthcare. Alderman Paul Dirkse showed how attention to sport and exercise is explicitly integrated into all areas of policy, for example by applying standards on the percentage of green spaces and opportunities for exercise in new building projects.

Two national examples of cross-domain cooperation were mentioned to promote starting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Within the BENEFIT for all project from Leiden University, an impressive consortium of public and private parties has joined forces to make healthy living attractive and rewarding. Hanneke Molema of TNO presented Lifestyle4health with a warm plea for lifestyle medicine as the latest example of national cooperation for a healthy society.

VWS confirmed that the Healthy Society ambitions were very much in line with the policy agenda. It is looking closely at how there can be broader cooperation on a healthy society across domains, and how scientific knowledge will be given a more prominent role in the policy agenda. There appeared to be plenty of momentum for starting groundbreaking collaborations between science and social partners to promote health and well-being and reduce health inequalities.