The third edition of Global Health Day, organised by KCGH, NVTG (now NSGH) and OIGT, took place on 15 May 2025. During the day, 150 global health professionals from the Netherlands and abroad came together to discuss the topic of appropriate care explore in a variety of contexts.
The focus was on how principles such as effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and shared decision-making with patients are shaped in practice - especially at a time of budgetary pressure and persistent staff shortages in healthcare.
The day was opened by chairman of the day Koos van der Velden, followed by a keynote by Prof Tijn Kool (Radboudumc/Radboud University), professor of Appropriate Care. In his lecture “Appropriate care: but how?” he addressed the tension between ideals and practicability, and the role of healthcare professionals in reducing inappropriate or ineffective care. His contribution provided a clear framework for further discussions throughout the day.
In several parallel sessions, they showed NVTG working groups and partners see how appropriate care is concretely implemented within their (international) collaborations. Themes ranged from mentoring foreign-trained healthcare professionals in the Netherlands to community-oriented learning, appropriate care for newcomers, global surgery, tropical medicine and person-centred reproductive and maternal care. They also reflected on the role of the Arts Internationale Gezondheidszorg (AIG) in the Dutch healthcare system and on small-scale international projects with great impact.
The parallel sessions provided space for both substantive depth and critical reflection on current scientific insights and practical approaches to care that is both effective and equitable.
At the end of the day, the NVTG General Assembly (ALV) and the first 2025 Educator Meeting took place. During this separate meeting for trainers, AIOS AIGT and CIGT members, there was joint reflection on developments within Physician International Health and Tropical Medicine training.
The day ended with informal drinks, where participants continued conversations and made new connections. Global Health Day 2025 showed that appropriate care is not an abstract policy concept, but an ongoing collaborative search for care that matches patient, context and available resources - locally and globally.
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