Future-proof health systems

Health systems across the globe are under increasing pressure. Demographic changes, the rise of chronic diseases, digitalisation, and workforce shortages demand resilient, adaptive, and future-proof systems. This theme focuses on understanding, comparing, and strengthening health systems in their broadest sense — from policy to practice, from financing to governance.

A systems approach to sustainable health

A future-proof health system is agile, responsive, and equitable. It can adapt to changing conditions, learns from both policy and practice, and ensures equal access to quality care for all. Within this theme, we take an interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from economics, sociology, public administration, public health, and epidemiology. Our focus is not on individual treatments, but on how entire systems function and perform.

By health systems, we mean the full set of actors, institutions, and processes that contribute to health — from healthcare organisations to policy structures, financing mechanisms, preventive efforts, and the broader social determinants of health.

Health system performance comparison

We study how health systems perform — nationally and internationally — and what lessons can be learned from variations between them. Through health system performance comparison, we explore which policy choices and organisational models lead to better outcomes, greater efficiency, and more fairness. We also examine the underlying values, interests, and power dynamics that shape these systems.

Population health management

A key focus of this theme is population health management: how can health organisations, municipalities, and other stakeholders work together to improve health outcomes for specific groups, with attention to prevention, social context, and local needs? We seek answers to questions such as:

• How do we organise health around people rather than institutions?

• What is needed to embed regional collaboration sustainably?

• How can data, governance, and financing models support this shift?

Our research network: building resilient health systems

Our network brings together researchers, policymakers, professionals, and citizens. Together, we work on a learning infrastructure that fosters dialogue between policy, practice, and research. We focus on:

• Policy evaluation and system learning: ongoing reflection on policy effects and implementation processes.

• Comparative system research: understanding how different health systems perform, both within the Netherlands and internationally.

• Cross-domain collaboration: health is not made in healthcare alone — partnerships with the social domain, technology, and legal fields are essential.

Our approach

We start with societal questions: How can we ensure that healthcare remains accessible and affordable in the future? What does fairness mean in a health system under pressure? Based on these questions, we develop research and education programmes that aim to make real social impact. We actively collaborate with policymakers, health organisations, and academic programmes such as Public Health, Health Law and Technology, and Governance and Policy.

Join us in our mission to make health systems truly future-proof — for everyone.