Organization

Members

The Health Council is headed by a President and two Vice-Presidents. It has nearly 200 Members, all selected from the scientific and healthcare communities. The Members are appointed by Royal Decree. The Health Council does not meet in plenary session, but works in committees.

Committees and activities

The Health Council’s advisory reports (both solicited and unsolicited) are produced in autonomous, multidisciplinary ad-hoc committees comprising both Members of the Council and external experts. Around 40 committees are generally at work at any one time. Some committees have a semi permanent character. Two examples are: the Committee on Toxic Substances in the Workplace (WGD – widely known by its English acronym, DECOS [Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Safety]) and the Committee on the Population Screening Act (WBO).

The Health Council and interests

Members of Health Council Committees – which also include the members of the Advisory Council on Health Research (RGO) since 1 February 2008 – are appointed in a personal capacity because of their special expertise in the matters to be addressed. Nonetheless, it is precisely because of this expertise that they may also have interests. This in itself does not necessarily present an obstacle for membership of a Health Council Committee. Transparency regarding possible conflicts of interest is nonetheless important, both for the Chairman and members of a Committee and for the President of the Health Council. On being invited to join a Committee, members are asked to submit a form detailing the functions they hold and any other material and immaterial interests which could be relevant for the Committee’s work. It is the responsibility of the President of the Health Council to assess whether the interests indicated constitute grounds for non-appointment. An advisorship will then sometimes make it possible to exploit the expertise of the specialist involved. During the establishment meeting the declarations issued are discussed, so that all members of the Committee are aware of each other’s possible interests.

Standing committees

In addition to the ad-hoc committees, there are also seven standing committees (beraadsgroepen), each with a very broad remit. The standing committees review draft reports from the ad-hoc committees and focus attention on topics about which advice can be given. The areas of activity of the seven standing committees presently in existence are: Genetics, Health and Environment, Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Nutrition, Medical Ethics and Health Law, Public Health, Medicine, Radiation and Health.