The Public Health Status and Foresight report 2014: Four normative perspectives on a healthier Netherlands in 2040

Casper G Schoemaker, Jeanne van Loon, Peter W Achterberg, Matthijs van den Berg, Maartje M Harbers, Frank R J den Hertog, Henk Hilderink, Geertjan Kommer, Johan Melse, Hans van Oers, Marjanne H D Plasmans, Robert A A Vonk, Nancy Hoeymans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Policy-oriented foresight reports aim to inform and advise decision-makers. In value-laden areas such as public health and healthcare, deliberative scenario methods are clearly needed. For the sixth Dutch Public Health Status and Forecasts-report (PHSF-2014), a new approach of co-creation was developed aiming to incorporate different societal norms and values in the description of possible future developments. The major future trends in the Netherlands were used as a starting point for a deliberative dialogue with stakeholders to identify the most important societal challenges for public health and healthcare. Four societal challenges were identified: 1) To keep people healthy as long as possible and cure illness promptly, 2) To support vulnerable people and enable social participation, 3) To promote individual autonomy and freedom of choice, and 4) To keep health care affordable. Working with stakeholders, we expanded these societal challenges into four corresponding normative scenarios. In a survey the normative scenarios were found to be recognizable and sufficiently distinctive. We organized meetings with experts to explore how engagement and policy strategies in each scenario would affect the other three societal challenges. Possible synergies and trade-offs between the four scenarios were identified. Public health foresight based on a business-as-usual scenario and normative scenarios is clearly practicable. The process and the outcomes support and elucidate a wide range of strategic discussions in public health.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)252-259
Number of pages8
JournalHealth Policy
Volume123
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2019
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Delivery of Health Care/economics
  • Health Policy/trends
  • Humans
  • Netherlands
  • Personal Autonomy
  • Population Health
  • Public Health/trends
  • Vulnerable Populations

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