Organised by KIT Institute in collaboration with Aidsfonds, Cordaid, KNCV TB Plus, The ONE Campaign and Philips, and supported by the Gates Foundation, the second Health and Prosperity event, held on December 15 at Nieuwspoort in The Hague, brought together government representatives, civil society organisations, academia, multilateral organisations, the private sector and Members of Parliament. Discussions focused on the future of Dutch engagement in global health at a critical time for international cooperation.

This content is available after accepting marketing cookies.

Change Cookie Settings View on YouTube Opens in a new window

In his opening address, Peter Derrek Hof (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) reflected on the progress achieved through the global health ecosystem and stressed that the Netherlands’ health interests depend on a strong multilateral architecture. He reaffirmed the importance of continued Dutch engagement with organisations such as WHO, GAVI and the Global Fund.

Providing a lived perspective, entomologist and malaria advocate Krystal Mwesiga Birungi from Target Malaria, Uganda, highlighted how decades of progress in malaria control are under pressure due to climate change, insecticide resistance and mosquito migration. She warned that slowing efforts now would risk reversing hard-won gains.

In a video contribution, Professor of Public Health Virology at Erasmus MC, Marion Koopmans emphasised that infectious diseases should not be treated as exceptional events, but as ongoing and sometimes accelerating challenges that require sustained attention. The Netherlands has a real role to play in global health capacity strengthening, for the benefit of the Netherlands and the world.

During a lively panel discussion, expertly moderated by Aidsfonds Advocate Lyle Muns, Professor of Global Health at Amsterdam UMC/AIGHD, Frank Cobelens outlined what pandemic preparedness entails in practice, pointing to the importance of multilateral cooperation, knowledge exchange, product development and research capacity. Ed Monchen, CEO at i+solutions, spoke on how Dutch expertise in procurement and supply-chain innovation contributes to more efficient and resilient health systems, including reducing stockouts and improving last-mile delivery. Roos Barth, Infectious Disease Specialist (internist) at the Centraal Militair Hospitaal, underscored that health and security are not separate goals, but closely interconnected, and that climate change, conflicts regarding limited resources and migration all have an impact on infectious diseases and health delivery.

In the final part of the public event, which provided space for Members of Parliament to reflect, Elles van Ark (CDA) and Suzanne van Kroger (GroenLinks-PvdA) stressed the importance of keeping global health high on the agenda of Dutch foreign and security policy, highlighting continued multilateral cooperation and a more holistic understanding of safety beyond defence that includes global health.

In this meeting, global health was examined through multiple lenses, including security, economic and health system resilience, crisis and conflict settings, innovation, and the role of the private sector. Across these discussions, a shared understanding emerged: global health requires a more holistic approach. In a world shaped by conflict, pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, climate change and geopolitical instability, health cannot be treated as a standalone sector, but as a foundation for stability and prosperity.

We thank all speakers, panellists and participants for their thoughtful contributions, and to Lyle Muns for the skilful moderation.

Photography: KIT/Kopisusu