Report Grinding links; Technological innovation and healthcare

Debates concerning healthcare have in recent years been dominated by the issues of costs and cost control, leading to insufficient attention being paid to the benefits of healthcare. Besides health improvements at the level of the individual patient and that of the population as a whole, there are also less visible benefits, spread across the policy areas of three ministries (Health, Welfare & Sport or 'VWS', Economic Affairs or 'EZ' and Education, Culture & Science or 'OC&W'). They include such benefits as scientific expertise, high-quality knowledge institutions, patentalbe (and therefore tradable) know-how, new and innovative businesses, employment growth, economic growth, exports and tax revenues.