23 June 2026 – The Minister of Health and Sports of the Kingdom of Netherlands addresses the Opening Ceremony in Berlin today.
Speaking at the Congress, the Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans focused on the resilience of healthcare systems, adding that quality healthcare was the most important factor for a resilient society and a fundamental prerequisite for social stability.
“Security and health go hand in hand; the situation in Ukraine demonstrates just how much a robust healthcare system bolsters a country’s resilience during a crisis.”
Minister Hermans observed that resilience begins at birth—with healthy, well-cared-for children, plenty of physical activity, a healthy diet, and protection against harmful habits such as vaping.
The Dutch government was making targeted investments in prevention to foster the growth of “the healthiest generation ever.”
Turning to the situation in Europe, Hermans, who is also the Minister for Welfare and Sports, advocated for cooperation rather than competition: the joint production of vaccines and medicines, a shared data infrastructure for real-time crisis response, and an open exchange of ideas on how to maintain healthcare services even with limited staffing.
She illustrated this core concept with an image from her home country: the lesson that one must learn to build dikes long before the floodwaters arrive.
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