This week is Health Disparities Week. An important moment to reflect on a worrying reality in the Netherlands.
People with low socio-economic status live shorter lives and in poorer health, on average. These socio-economic health disparities are no accident - they are closely linked to conditions such as education, income and access to understandable healthcare information.
AtDiversity of Nursing we focus on the social determinants of mental health. We support caregivers in strengthening their health literacy and deploy support where it touches on mental health.
At the same time, we see that our healthcare system works especially well for people who already have strong health skills. For others, the care system is often too complex: information is fragmented or too difficult to explain, systems are complicated and support does not always arrive on time or does not connect well with the context. This became all too clear today during a presentation by Pharos | Expertise Centre for Health Disparities at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport's national Congress Together for Health, Care and Welfare.
That can and really should be different. Our call in this week is therefore: Do not lose sight of people who have difficulty finding their way in the healthcare system. Make health information understandable, organise accessible care and make sure no one is excluded.
Speaking of good care, it is only when it is accessible and understandable to all.
