Health as a foundation for inclusive prosperity

The Harvesting workshop Prevention brought together various parties to finalise the Prevention Initiative with solutions and concrete follow-up actions.

This initiative was launched following the signing of the Healthy and Active Living Agreement (GALA) in 2023. The agreement emphasises the importance of reducing health disparities and keeping healthcare affordable. Through local and regional collaboration, ways are being sought to strengthen preventive measures and achieve an inclusive prosperity. In the Prevention workshops, organised by the Amsterdam Economic Board, ROM InWest and the Metropoolregio Amsterdam, partners spoke about possibilities and solutions.

On the move for health and well-being

The meeting began literally in motion. Led by smove, a partner of the Beweegalliantie, participants were playfully challenged to get active. This set the tone: prevention requires action, and movement is a crucial catalyst for health and well-being.

Inge Müller, programme manager at Amsterdam Vitaal & Gezond, presented how her programme is committed to equal opportunities for health. With an ambition to give vulnerable groups ten more healthy years of life by 2040, Inge emphasised the importance of collaboration across sectors and involving residents in initiatives. She said the core of prevention lies in both culture change and systemic change. Inge’s call to link the outcomes of the Harvest workshop’s theme tables to ongoing regional coalitions resonated with participants.

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Theme tables: from vision to action

Three thematic tables presented their findings:

1. Existence Security – Led by Edwin Levels (NZa), it was emphasised that prevention must ensure equal outcomes, not just equal opportunity. Addressing debt and livelihood insecurity appeared to be a key theme.
2. Ownership – Vincent Los (Nova College) spoke about promoting social cohesion through accessible neighbourhood initiatives and data-driven insights, such as dashboards to monitor the health of neighbourhoods.
3. Develop and harmonise – Luc Hagenaars (Amsterdam UMC) explained how habitat and commercial determinants of health influence well-being. He argued for stricter rules around business models that harm public health.

The pitches were followed by a conversation about strengthening connections, avoiding fragmentation and building on existing structures. In this way, an integrated approach is being developed in which companies, governments, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations work together.

Inspiration for the future

The Harvesting workshop marks the conclusion of the Prevention initiative and inspires the new course of the Amsterdam Economic Board within the theme Healthy Region, focused on Life Sciences & Health. With these insights, new steps will be taken towards a healthier and resilient region.

Want to know more about our new themes? Please contact Gerty Holla and join our mission for a healthy region!