Life sciences and health - Sweden
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Central mission
In 2019, the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport drew up a central mission to ensure by 2040 that all residents of the Netherlands enjoy a healthy life, live 5 years longer, and that health differences between the lowest and highest socio-economic groups are reduced by 30 percent. These policy priorities guide our work at the embassy.
The Netherlands and Sweden are both known for their scientific innovations. We also share the challenges of a rise in chronic conditions due to an ageing population and unhealthy lifestyles. Without policy changes, healthcare expenses will rise to 20 or even 30 percent of GDP by 2040.
Together, we work to find solutions to improve quality of life whilst keeping health care affordable. In the Netherlands we aim, for example, to enable people with a chronic disease or lifelong disability to participate in society and to increase early diagnosis of life threatening diseases. The collaboration with Swedish counterparts opens new avenues and enables us to find solutions.
ATMP and MedTech
New technologies for transformed healthcare
Presently we have a focus on two important areas for the transformation of healthcare, Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) and medical devices including in vitro diagnostics.
ATMP are innovative medicines that utilize genes, cells, or tissues to treat or prevent diseases. They can revolutionize healthcare but are presently costly and require trained personnel. Sweden and the Netherlands are working together to solve challenges for the introduction of ATMP therapies into healthcare.
Medical devices and in vitro diagnostics are also key enablers for modern healthcare. Sweden and the Netherlands collaborate to identify obstacles in the European market and regulatory framework and find solutions to improve availability of these technologies to healthcare.