Collaboration between IFMSA-NL and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport

Including future healthcare professionals in global health policy; that was our objective one year ago when we entered into dialogue with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We pleaded for a youth delegate as part of the Dutch delegation to the World Health Assembly (WHA) to promote the health interest of our future patients. After multiple conversations IFMSA - The Netherlands and both Ministries established a partnership.

The partnership has two important goals. Firstly, we want to include future healthcare professionals in global health policy. Secondly, we want to expand the knowledge and understanding among students for global health policy, the WHO (World Health Organization) and the role of the Dutch government in international health policy. Therefore we started a pilot this year, which will be evaluated by both parties this summer.

To attain the goals mentioned above, two main actions took place. During the General Assembly of IFMSA-the Netherlands Pieter de Coninck, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, gave a lecture on the upcoming World Health Assembly. On June 10 another lecture will be organized to reflect on the WHA.

Another important part of the partnership was participation in the WHA, which will take place in Geneva between May 22 and 31. The WHA is the annual meeting and the decision-making body of the WHO. The WHO is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations’ system and aims to build a better, healthier future for people all over the world.

On behalf of IFMSA-the Netherlands, Renée Burger, a fourth year medical student from Amsterdam, will be part of the Dutch delegation to the WHA. During the meeting she will make a short statement on the agenda item ‘Progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’.

If you want to know more about the WHA or if you want to stay informed about developments concerning the youth delegate program, please like the official Facebook page of IFMSA-the Netherlands or follow Renée on Twitter during her presence at the WHA (@Renee_J_Burger). For questions: youthdelegate@ifmsa.nl