About CEG
The Centre for Ethics and Health (CEG) was founded by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (letter of foundation CEG 14/9/2001). It forms part of the Health Council and the Council for Public Health and Health Care, and as such is a joint venture and not a separate organization.
The centre is therefore in a position to make the best possible use of the specific knowledge available in both these advisory councils regarding ethics and health. The CEG was set up in accordance with recommendations made in the report Ethiek met beleid (‘Ethics with policy’) issued by the Council for Public Health and Health Care.
Why is a Centre for Ethics and Health necessary?
The rapid developments in the field of medicine and biology can give rise to ethical questions. For example, should everything that is possible also be permissible? In addition, budgetary limitations prompt the question of what constitutes a fair distribution of resources. Opinions on issues like these often differ considerably. In order to pursue effective policy, it is necessary to take full stock of the issues at stake and to involve society in the process of coming up with the answers. This is the only approach that can enable the government to fulfil its obligation in the field of healthcare as set out in the Dutch constitution.
The government’s healthcare obligation
The government is subject to a healthcare obligation enshrined in Article 22 of the Constitution, which states ‘The government shall take measures to promote public health’. ‘Promote’ here also means ‘protect’ against such threats as imminent health hazards. This duty also involves promoting facilities to increase the level of public health, regardless of whether direct external threats give immediate cause for concern.
What does the CEG do?
The CEG has the following tasks:
Monitoring and reporting
The CEG identifies new developments in science and society which are important for public health from an ethical perspective and reports to the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in this regard. This process might take in ethical aspects of medical treatments, the actual situation in the healthcare sector, healthy behaviour, nutrition and the environment.
The councils working together in the CEG produce an annual monitoring report. This serves as a basis for the Ethics and Health Agenda which the Minister submits to the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament each year at the same time as the national budget. The CEG also issues ‘early warning’ reports to the minister if necessary. The CEG reports provide insight into scientific and social developments in the field of ethics and health. The centre identifies those issues which have major implications for public health policy in the near future. The first monitoring report was presented to the Deputy Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport on 16 May 2003.
Informing and referring
The CEG informs professionals, policy makers and interested parties about issues relating to ethics and health. It does so through the medium of the CEG website. The CEG makes a great deal of information available on this website regarding specific subjects, legislation, organizations and institutes in the field of ethics and health. The site also features a calendar of conferences and other public events.
Networking and coordinating
In connection with its tasks of monitoring, information and referral, the CEG maintains contacts with organizations and experts in the field of ethics and health within the Netherlands and throughout the world.