Procurement as a driver of change
On Thursday 5 February 2026, the 16th edition of the Healthcare Conference took place at Van der Valk Hotel Houten. Under the guidance of chair Erik van Raaij (Professor of Sustainable Procurement in Health Care), the programme gained both focus and energy.
Major societal themes were translated into the daily reality of healthcare organisations. Labour market challenges, chain collaboration and sustainability ran as a common thread throughout the day, always with the central question: how do we turn vision into measurable results?
Labour market: reorganising is unavoidable
Marcel Canoy opened the conference with a clear analysis of the healthcare labour market. The challenge is not only the shortage of staff, but also the way work is currently organised.
According to him, the future requires smarter organisation, more intensive collaboration and deliberate use of technology. Recruitment and training remain important, but they are not sufficient to keep the system sustainable.
“The labour market doesn’t call for quick fixes, but for the courage to move forward together — sometimes two steps ahead, sometimes one step back, yet always with the patient’s interests at heart.”
Marcel Canoy, Professor of Health Economics at VU Amsterdam
The message was clear: progress is rarely linear, but standing still is not an option.
Collaborating across boundaries
Bart van Grinsven demonstrated how collaboration between healthcare providers, industry and academic partners can lead to tangible impact.
Using a circular project focused on medical plastics from operating theatres, he showed both the value of chain collaboration and the complexity of scaling it up. Successful innovation requires trust, standardisation and speaking the same language.
“You need to speak the same language. And that is, in fact, the biggest challenge.”
Bart van Grinsven, Associate Professor, Maastricht University
His keynote made it clear that sustainable innovation does not emerge from isolated pilots, but from structural collaboration.
Climate and healthcare: urgency and active hope
Susanne Bentvelsen brought the climate crisis close to home by illustrating the impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable clients. It became clear that sustainability is not separate from healthcare, but an integral part of it.
The Aardewerk programme shows how greening and sustainability can be woven into everyday healthcare practice: from food and mobility to reuse, greener facilities and energy‑neutral buildings.
Not as a standalone project, but as an integrated way of working.
“My golden tip for every organisation is this: make sustainability and greening a priority. Once you do, the initiatives will follow naturally.”
Susanne Bentvelsen, Board of Directors, Aveleijn
Sustainability was positioned here as a structural direction, not a temporary ambition.
Deep‑dive breakout sessions
In the breakout sessions, participants actively engaged with one another on practical examples, dilemmas and next steps. The interaction created both recognition and concrete tools to apply new insights within their own organisations.
With inspiring stories, sharp analyses and the energy in the room, the conference demonstrated that while the healthcare sector faces major challenges, it also has the knowledge, creativity and collaborative strength to make real progress.
The magic of connection
The day concluded with an interactive session on “The magic of connection”. At its core was the power of genuine human connection. Because it is precisely in connection that movement begins — and with it, the space to turn vision into results.
Would you like to attend a future edition or receive more information? Visit the event page for updates and a recap.
Mark 4 February 2027 in your calendar!