NSGH + KCGH + OIGT and the Global Health Hub
The Netherlands’ Society for Global Health (NSGH)* has long been a cornerstone of the Dutch global health community. With a history dating back over 10 decades - being established in 1907 - the NSGH serves as a professional association for health professionals dedicated to improve global health.
The NSGH provides a network that fosters collaboration across disciplines, and currently has 19 working groups and 750 members — including doctors, nurses, researchers, educators, and policymakers. Its involvement in the Global Health Hub is an extension of its mission to strengthen connections, share knowledge, and advance health equity worldwide. The NSGH closely collaborates with the Knowledge Centre Global Health (KCGH) and International and tropical medicine (OIGT) education Centre (OIGT). KCGH facilitates global health knowledge translation into Dutch healthcare, for example through the organization of symposia, film festivals, webinars and e-learnings. The OIGT offers the Dutch residency program for medical doctors in Global Health . The collaboration between NSGH, KCGH and OIGT allows them to link practice, research, policy, education and advocacy.
*In spring 2025 the name Nederlandse Vereniging voor Tropengeneeskunde en Internationale Gezondheidszorg (NVTG) will change to Netherlands’ Society for Global Health (NSGH).
Collaboration with the Hub
Hanneke Dekker, chair of the NSGH, sees the Hub as a natural partner for the organization’s work. “The Hub aligns perfectly with what we do. It’s about bringing people together, creating a community, and sharing knowledge. That’s exactly what we do within the NSGH and together with KCGH, only now it’s on a broader scale.” The Hub provides a platform to link members of the NSGH with other global health stakeholders, fostering partnerships that amplify their collective impact.
The NSGH’s commitment to education and professional development is another key aspect of its work. As Barend Gerretsen of the OIGT notes, “We’ve trained hundreds of global health professionals over the years, with a curriculum that now meets all the standards for medical specialization in the Netherlands. This training is about clinical skills and understanding the complexities of global health systems.” The Global Health Hub offers an invaluable platform to showcase NSGH’s expertise and learn from others in the field.
One of the strengths of the NSGH is its ability to connect individuals and institutions. Members bring their global health perspective to a variety of settings, from hospitals and NGOs to research and teaching institutions and policymaking bodies. This diversity, according to Dekker, is what makes the NSGH such a powerful force. “We’re a knowledge-sharing community. Our members have deep expertise in areas like tropical medicine, a large range of medical specializations including infectious diseases, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, radiology, public health, and epidemiology. Many work in both low- and middle income countries and the Netherlands, which offers them practical insights. They bring that knowledge to the Hub to inform broader global health strategies.” Besides that, are the knowledge activities organized by the NSGH/KCGH also interesting for the other global health hub partners. For example, last Fall we organized symposia about health for Newcomers in the Netherlands and mis- and disinformation in global health.
New goals for the coming years
The NSGH recognizes the Global Health Hub’s potential to influence policy and drive systemic change. “The Hub is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between civil society, knowledge institutions, and government,” says Gerretsen. “It provides a platform where these sectors can come together and develop cohesive strategies. That’s critical to address complex issues like pandemic preparedness and climate-related health challenges.”
However, both Dekker and Gerretsen acknowledge that the Hub is still evolving. “It’s early days, and there’s still work to be done in making the Hub fully operational,” says Dekker. “But the vision is there, and the potential is enormous.” Gerretsen adds, “To truly succeed, the Hub needs dedicated resources and a strong operational backbone. But we believe in its mission and are committed to supporting it.”