In our interview series “Planning and Forming” we speak to experts from various sectors about the issues in their sector, the ways in which they are trying to put them on the agenda in the upcoming coalition agreement and their view of the new House of Representatives. This edition we speak to Saskia ter Kuile.
Saskia ter Kuile is Department Leader Marketing and Communications at Vilans, dhe national knowledge organization for long-term care. Together with clients, loved ones, healthcare professionals and other parties involved, Vilans works daily to offer the right knowledge about long-term care, in the right place, personally and tailor-made.
Were you satisfied with the election results?
Yes, personally I was certainly satisfied. But also for Vilans: every election that results in a less neoliberal policy is good for healthcare. Until now, care has always been seen as a collective expenditure, while this is not necessary. In other countries, healthcare is not seen as a cost item on which you spend money. But the more liberal the politics, the more care is seen as a collective cost item. Of course there must be individual responsibility, but this must be supported, for example with a coherent prevention policy. It is therefore exciting what the formation will bring.
What are the most important issues for your sector?
There are major social trends such as aging and the aging of society, which require care and support. In addition, many vulnerable groups in society are increasingly isolated. Vilans can provide these groups with tools for care with knowledge and experience. It is therefore important that the added value of a knowledge organization such as Vilans is more widely recognized.
In what ways have you tried to incorporate these issues into politics?
Public affairs is very dynamic and as an organization you have to adapt to that. It is important to be visible within your own sector as this also gives you more access to politics. As a knowledge organization, we want to be present and play a role. To do this, you have to look at who, how and at what time you should approach someone, so that it fits in with what, for example, the ministry needs to do their work properly.
In addition, you also have to have an effect on the inside, not just on the outside. We have started a campaign to put Vilans on the map so that people can talk about how our programs can contribute to working in healthcare. A knowledge bundle has been developed to make not only our products visible, but also who Vilans is and that we are the sender of a lot of knowledge in and about healthcare. You need Vilans as a knowledge organization for the policy process in long-term care. We want to show the added value of our organization, not just the 60 products next to each other, but also what the issues are and how Vilans contributes to them.
We have chosen the internal route and in this way we hope to have a greater impact in The Hague, because we show with developed legitimacy that our projects deserve support. The policy goals for long-term care must be determined in the near future. We call for the disruption of long-term care, thereby indicating what measures you could take.
“As a knowledge organization, we want to be present and play a role. To do this, you have to look at who, how and at what time you should approach someone, so that it fits in with what, for example, the ministry needs to do their work properly.”
What should remain the same for the next 4 years?
In recent years, the realization has grown that if you want to change something, you have to do something for it. As a result, improvement programs are drawn up and systematic changes take place. Autonomous development does not automatically lead to a desired outcome. This is a positive development. Adjust the framework, make a law, improve through programs; This is the only way to solve the systemic changes.
What needs to change in the next 4 years?
Division in healthcare is increasingly discussed, but that division already exists. As a society we must speak out about this. It is important that society is more involved in developments in healthcare so that everyone can have a say and help shape it. Changes should not be imposed from above. To achieve this, the policy must be designed in a different way. For the government, this means a different way of dealing with parties in society.
“It is important that society is more involved in developments in healthcare, so that everyone can have a say and help shape it
Do you think your sector is well represented in the House of Representatives?
There was not very good representation of long-term care in the House of Representatives. Vera Bergkamp was a good representative of this, but has now become Speaker of the House. The issues surrounding long-term care are very complex and complex decisions need to be made to reduce bureaucracy. Broadly supported knowledge in the House would have been useful in this regard. We will therefore do our utmost to inform current MPs about long-term care and offer them the knowledge we have.
How do you see the future regarding politics in the Netherlands?
I think that politics in the Netherlands is on a fault line where we need to take a step forward to ensure that things change. Administrative innovation is very important. I am hopeful that we will take this step forward.
Who will be the new minister?
I think it is likely that Tamara van Ark will continue her work. Continuity is important now
