A 670 million euro investment will be made by the Health Ministry of Health of the Netherlands to improve pandemic preparedness, as the approach to the Coronavirus pandemic was insufficient, NL Times reports. The country’s Health Minister Ernst Kuipers announced that the Cabinet had agreed on this.
Over the next two years, 74 million euros will go to the GGD public health branches. A part of these funds is earmarked for training and improving the expertise of GGD staff. “In this way, the quality and professionalism of the infectious disease control employees is maintained,” Kuipers said.
48 million euros will be allocated over the next three years to improve IT systems, to provide health and to to share data between parties involved in preventing and controlling pandemics, such as the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
“During the coronavirus pandemic, it quickly became clear that the existing information provision is not well equipped for pandemic control,” explained Kuipers.
Infection Control Functionality (LFI) will receive an additional 9 million next year. For this purpose, that amount is added once to the annual budget of 10 million euros. In the event of an ongoing or new pandemic, the LFI will assume a coordinating role from mid-2023. “For example, in times of crisis, decisive management can be conducted, with more central management by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport,” the health minister said.