About us

This section of the website contains information about who we are and what we do, as well as details on our organisational structure and working methods. The organization comprises two parts. The Council is headed by the Presidency. The Secretariat is led by the Executive Director. In addition, there is the Presidium Committee, which is made up by the Vice Presidents of the Standing Committees and the Council’s Presidency.

The Council

The Health Council does not meet on a plenary basis, but instead operates in independent, multidisciplinary committees and standing committees.

In 2008, the duties of the Health Council of the Netherlands were expanded to include health services research as a result of an amendment to the Public Health Act. The Advisory Council on Health Research retained its functions and was integrated into the Health Council of the Netherlands; it has since been one of the standing committees.

The Netherlands Centre for Ethics and Health (CEG) was established on 16 May 2003. The CEG is a joint venture of the Health Council of the Netherlands and the Council for Public Health and Healthcare (RVZ). See also www.ceg.nl.

The Health Council’s history dates back to 1902.

Independence

The Health Council of the Netherlands’ independence - which is required by law - is an important asset to our public health system. Again and again, this independence must be demonstrated in practice and be able to stand the test of criticism. The Council gives substance to this along two routes: by means of a detailed process of quality assurance and, linked to that, a transparent approach when dealing with potential interests.

Work programme

Each year, the Health Council draws up a work programme containing an overview of the issues that will form the subjects of advice for the coming calendar year.

This does not automatically mean that a report will be published on every one of these subjects during the programme year. The work programme indicates what the Health Council intends to do in that year, what it is already doing and which new topics have been added to the portfolio.

Periodicals

The Health Council publishes its Dutch-language in-house magazine Graadmeter four times a year and (for the benefit of its contacts abroad) an English-language newsletter entitled Network, which appears twice a year.

International

The Health Council is an active member of EuSANH, a European network of national scientific advisory bodies in the field of public health. To stay informed of the latest activities, procedures, medical aids and medicines, the Health Council participates in various international partnerships.

Secretariat

The Council is supported by a secretariat.