International strategic agenda 2020 National Health Care Institute
The Dutch health care system is based on the principles of a high level of access to care solidarity (because everyone is obliged to take out medical health insurance and insurers are obliged to accept all and high quality health care services. The National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) carries out tasks relating to two Dutch statutory health insurance schemes: the Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet) and the Long-Term Care Act (Wet langdurige Zorg, Wlz). Our role in maintaining the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care in the Netherlands involves various tasks. When performing these tasks, we participate with various other countries in an increasing number of international activities. This international strategic agenda (ISA) 2020 has been formulated to maintain focus on these international activities, and to decide which activities are relevant for the National Health Care Institute and its tasks.
Goals of this international strategic agenda 2020
The ISA describes relevant topics and international activities for 2020. It also describes the National Health Care Institute’s position on relevant topics. As such, the ISA serves various goals:
- To provide an overview of the National Health Care Institute’s international activities in 2020.
- By describing the relevant topics and corresponding international activities, this ISA is used to determine which international activities (e.g., international networks, projects and conferences) are relevant for our tasks and activities.
- Describing the National Health Care Institute’s position on these topics increases colleagues’ awareness of these corporate goals. This will increase our impact in international networks where agendas and joint positions are determined, and during our presentations and workshops at conferences.
- Where deemed appropriate, the National Health Care Institute works together with other Dutch national bodies that focus on health care and that also particate in international activities.
Focus on 2020
The activities described in this ISA focus on 2020. Both national and international developments can have an impact on these international activities. Examples are the upcoming trade deal between the USA and Europe, and Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences of these developments, though as yet unknown, will be taken into account as and when needed. Where necessary, activities will be altered. The main focus of the National Health Care Institute’s international activities is Europe, although countries outside Europe are not necessarily excluded.
The National Health Care Institute’s long-term research agenda, which was approved by the board of directors in June 2019, describes relevant research topics, based on 3 ambitions and 9 sub-goals as formulated in our long-term plan for 2018-2022. The structure is therefore the same as this ISA. To avoid overlap, this ISA does not focus on research, but instead describes all relevant topics that the National Health Care Institute should focus on internationally by, e.g., participating in international networks. When a topic specifically calls for research, it is described as such in our long-term research agenda.
This ISA focuses specifically on 3 ambitions and on our tasks. This means that some relevant international topics may not have been mentioned in this ISA, because these topics are not part of the National Health Care Institute’s tasks.