Care for health. The 2006 Dutch Public Health Status and Forecasts Report

As in the past a large amount of information on health, prevention and health care in the Netherlands has been collected for this edition of the VTV public health forecast. Public health in the Netherlands is improving, but can still be better. Overweight and unhealthy behaviour, especially among young people, are becoming a source of concern for public health in the future. Furthermore, there are many differences in health and health risks cited among regions and neighbourhoods. Backlogs in public health are often associated with socio-economic backlogs and other unfavourable aspects in the living environment. Prevention should not only focus on the individual but just as much on the social and spatial factors in the environment. Other sectors too, such as education, spatial planning and socio-economic policy, should as far as possible, be included in the health improvement initiatives for a healthier population. True, the amounts spent on health care have risen considerably, but the health care offered in the past decennia has also contributed to longer lives in good health. Better health means more control over one's own life, more participation in society and ultimately less need for long-term care. However, great gains can still be made in patient safety, integral chain care, and especially in effective prevention and care. The information offered in this public health forecast is not only important for policy development at the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, but is also valuable for other ministries, local and regional authorities, health care , and educational and scientific institutions.