Themes

Better to prevent than cure. By giving people more control over their own health and mental wellbeing and (when necessary) providing early support, it is expected that they will have a lower demand for care. That is why in recent years there has been increased attention for (digital) methods and interventions that stimulate and support people to live healthier lives, both mentally and physically. The role and position of loved ones and healthcare professionals in self-management is an important focus. There could also be research looking into how therapy compliance and better adherence to lifestyle advice can be promoted with digital self-management tools. The question is whether and how these types of techniques can best be deployed, and what its impact could be on people with diverse backgrounds and risk factors. 

Being physically ill is mentally demanding. Good mental health can have a positive effect on quality of life and even recovery. The same goes for a healthy lifestyle (see also theme 1) for people with somatic illnesses: quitting smoking, eating healthier, exercising more; it can all contribute to recovery. But it is not easy to work on your mental health when you are unwell. On top of that, patients are increasingly confronted with multiple complex conditions (multi-morbidity). This is also difficult for loved ones and family carers; their role in recovery is becoming increasingly important. And even when people have fully recovered physically, their past diagnosis can still have an impact on their mental wellbeing, which should not be forgotten about.  

The development and possibilities of digital health and care technology are rapidly expanding and there are high expectations of the contribution digital technology can make to avoid a care crisis. It also offers opportunities for strengthening mental wellbeing; after all, the technology is always available, whereas the care professional is only available at set and often limited times. However, the actual usage and embedding of digital healthcare technology within daily practice is difficult to measure lags behind the expectations. One explanation is that the step from development to practical use is not as straightforward as sometimes assumed. Sustainable implementation and embedding within healthcare practice and policy is essential to ensure the applicability, accessibility and usability of healthcare technology for both patients and healthcare professionals. 

A key ingredient of broad prosperity is that it should be available to everyone. After all, every person in the Netherlands deserves a fair chance at a healthy life. Digital innovations in healthcare have the potential to help everyone. At the same time they create the risk that certain groups of people will benefit less than others, for example because they have poorer digital or communication skills. How can we ensure that these groups do not fall behind further? And in relation to this: how do we reduce the "digital divide" rather than increase it? It is tempting to develop additional new digital tools in search for a solution, but it seems questionable that this is the right answer. But what is?  

There are many expectations from digital solutions to improve people's mental and physical wellbeing. Developments in this area are rapid, creating new opportunities and applications for care. Whilst all this is happening, the healthcare system is under great pressure. The healthcare sector faces the task of finding an answer for the rising and increasingly complex demand for care. At the same time, the available financial resources are not growing with along with the demand and there is a shortage on the labor market. Concluding: the availability of care is decreasing while demand is increasing: a care gap is the result. A transformation within healthcare is needed to bridge that gap. Collaboration across primary, secondary and tertiary care within a network approach are becoming more important and new professions, functions and collaborations are emerging. All these developments are expected to contribute to a complete transformation of the healthcare sector in the coming years. To make all of this possible, much is required and expected from all involved: citizens and patients, healthcare and welfare organisations and their employees, health insurers and governmental institutions.