On the 12th of May 2011, the Task Force Health Care (TFHC), Meduprof-S and the Health Insurance for the Poor (HIP) organised a conference for the medical-technological sector.
The day consisted of several sessions, with one common theme: Social entrepreneurship for the healthcare sector Filling the gap between Development Aid and the Private Sector.
More than a hundred participants of different companies were presented at Fontys University of applied sciences in Eindhoven that day.
From ten o’clock until eleven o’clock the guests arrived, after registration they could take a seat in the main conference room and settle down for the opening of the conference.
The host off the day, Arend-Jan Boekestijn opened the conference at eleven o’clock with a introduction of the day, a preface of the theme: Social Entrepreneurship and introduced the companies who had organised this day.
-Mr. Willem van Prooijen, director of Meduprof-S
-Mr. Thijs Teeling, chairman of the Task Force Health Care
-Mr. Arthur van Have, chairman of HIP Platform
All three answered two questions about their company in short, quick answers.
After this, Arend-Jan Boekestijn introduced the keynote speakers that will present the concept of ‘Social Entrepreneurship’ in theory and practice.
Keynote 1: ‘The concept of Social Entrepreneurship’
Mr. Grant Rhodes, independent health economist.
Keynote 2: ‘Social Entrepreneurship in Practice’
Professor Belal – Former Dean Alexandria University, Faculty of Medicine.
Keynote 3: ‘Critical view on Social Entrepreneurship’
Mr. Jan Donner, CEO Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)
This introduction was followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Mr. Donner, who dealed with the question whether social entrepreneurship really constitutes the way forward.
The panel consisted of an advisor of VNO/NCW Huib Klamer, the MDG ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Mr. Christian Rebergen and Henri van Eeghen of Cordaid.
After this panel discussion a network lunch followed.
After lunch there were four parallel discussions:
1. Mr. Willem van de Put, Managing Director at Healthnet TPO: Technology is the solution for healthcare in developing countries.
2. Mrs. Wilma de Groot of Meduprof-S: Stop training healthworkers, to stop braindrain in developing countries.
3. Mrs. Ankie van den Broek from Platform for Health insurance for the Poor (HIP): Industry must invest in health insurance systems in developing countries.
4. Arjan van Bergeijk, partner at AMPC: The private sector can create sustainable health infrastructures!
From 15.15 until 15.55 there was a second network break.
Subsequently the conclusions of the four speakers of the four sessions where be presented by Mr. Arend-Jan Boekestijn and Mr. Thijs Teeling.
This was followed by a panel discussion on the Dutch approach to healthcare development aid chaired by Mrs. Marcia Luyten who has published extensively on aid policies. In this panel we heared the views of Peter van de Ven of Philips Healthcare, the author Linda Polman who has recently published de Crisiskaravaan, Wim Leereveld of the Access to Medicine Foundation and Willem van de Put of Healthnet TPO.
The following issues are considered.
1. If a collective approach is not feasible because there is no reliable central or local government what can be done? Could market based solutions fill the void
2. If the answer is yes, how can we convince the World Bank that they should sometimes be willing to waiver their condition that a local government should be involved?
3. If there is no government involved how can we make sure that the existing government will not thwart social entrepreneurship in the private sector
4. Under which circumstances can we opt for a collective approach and when for social entrepreneurship. Are hybrid versions possible?
At the end, Mr. Arend-Jan Boekestijn summarised the discussions and findings and reflected upon what the next steps could be.
Afterwards there was a network reception were everyone could evaluate the day and were contacts have been made.
We can look back on a successful day and we are looking forward to the next conference.
