Healthy services research. The future of health services research in The Netherlands

In response to questions from the Lower House of Parliament about the knowledge infrastructure for health sciences the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has identified the need for an analysis by the Advisory Council on Health Research (RGO). The minister formulated two central questions: ‘... whether the knowledge infrastructure is of sufficient size and stability to properly address the questions regarding developments in the health care system now and in the future’ and ‘... whether there is a good balance between free risky innovative research and request guided research’. For both questions he requested ‘... a good analysis and a convincing answer’ by the RGO.

Committee

• Prof. P.J. van der Maas, Chair, Advisory Council on Health Research (RGO), chairman
• I. van Bennekom, Director, Netherlands Federation of Patients and Consumers (NPCF) (until 31 March 2008), Director, Long-Term Care Directorate, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (from 1 April 2008)
• Dr. H.J.J.M. Berden, Director, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg
• Dr. A. Boer, Executive Board Member, Healthcare Insurance Board (CVZ)
• Prof. T.E.D. van der Grinten, Emeritus Professor of Healthcare Policy and Organisation, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Prof. P.P. Groenewegen, Professor of the Spatial and Social Aspects of Public Health and Healthcare, Utrecht University, Director, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) (from 1 January 2009)
• Prof. R.P.T.M. Grol, Professor of Healthcare Quality, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
• Dr. I.M.E. Heesbeen (from 1 January 2008), Senior Policy Officer, Client Quality and Innovation, Healthcare Providers Association (ActiZ)
• Prof. N.S. Klazinga, Professor of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam
• M.E. Rompa-Kunst (until 31 December 2007), Director, Healthcare Providers Association (ActiZ) (until 31 December 2007)
• Prof. J.M.G.A. Schols, Professor of Chronic Care, Tilburg University, Professor of Nursing Home Medicine, Maastricht University
• Dr. H.A. Smit, Head, Centre for Prevention and Healthcare Research, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
• Dr. M.J. Trappenburg, Lecturer in Politics, Utrecht School of Governance
• Prof. D. Wiersma, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders, University Medical Centre Groningen
• Dr. M.B.J.A. Janssens, Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), observer (from 1 June 2008)
• Dr. J. van Kammen, Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), observer (until 31 May 2008)
• W. Reijmerink, Macro-Economic Issues and Working Conditions Directorate, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, observer
• Dr. S.H.M. Litjens, Health Council (GR)/Advisory Council on Health Research (RGO), The Hague, scientific secretary
• Dr. R. van der Sande, Health Council (GR)/Advisory Council on Health Research (RGO), The Hague, scientific secretary