Strengthening Institutional Awareness of Commercial Influence in the Netherlands

Abstract Background Commercial entities are diverse and can contribute both positively and negatively to health. Increasingly, the public health challenges we're facing today are recognised as complex and systemic societal problems that commercial entities play a part in. As a National Public Health Institute (NPHI) and as trusted advisors, we need expertise on this important system of drivers. Failing to account for the impact of these commercial determinants of health (CDoH) may result in incomplete public health models and suboptimal advice. Moreover, the tactics employed by industries influence us as public health actors, requiring our awareness. Our objective is to better understand how commercial (f)actors influence our work and to systematically apply this knowledge to improve and safeguard the accuracy, robustness and impact of our work, now and in the future. Methods We studied the literature in relation to complex systems and industry tactics. In an institute-wide workshop we asked colleagues for CDoH-related examples and discussed potential (counter)actions. Deeper analyses addressed three cases (tobacco/nicotine products; pharmaceuticals; conceptual public health models). In a symposium we will discuss findings, knowledge gaps and strategic priorities with a broad set of researchers and policy makers. Outcomes will be collected in a scientific paper. Results Institute employees provided input from various fields, such as tobacco, pharmaceuticals, foresight methodology, medical technology, fall prevention, food and nutrition, pesticides, vaccine uptake, and pandemic preparedness. One example documented limitations in research methodology applied by tobacco industry, implying that publications should (at least) clearly state industry affiliations. Conclusions These actions aim to solidify our knowledge and advice, counter mis- and disinformation and eventually enable us to contribute to agenda-setting, for improved future research and advice to policy-making.