Driving Change in Health Care by Influencing Policy

Problem

Empowering Health Care Professionals through Strategic Advocacy to Enhance Awareness and Ensure Safety in Health Care

Health Care Professionals working in cancer care are exposed to hazardous drugs, such as carcinogenic and mutagenic substances. Studies revealed that healthcare workers frequently exposed to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances are at significant health risks. A global medical technology company wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of working with such chemicals and advocate for policy changes, in the context of the transposition of an EU directive in the Belgian legislation.

The objectives were clear for the company committed to advancing healthcare worker safety:

• Mapping the stakeholders & their needs: Identifying key players and understanding their roles and needs in the healthcare landscape.
• Raise awareness about this issue: Highlighting the risks and advocating for better practices in healthcare settings.
• Advocate for policy changes: Pushing for legislative measures to reduce exposure to hazardous substances.

Strategy & approach

Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Impact: Building consensus and driving meaningful change

The company enlisted our guidance from the start to the finish of this policy trajectory, starting from a comprehensive narrative and an elaborate stakeholder outreach. Our strategy pathway entailed:

• 1. Issue analysis & corporate positioning: A thorough analysis of the existing EU Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD), anticipating potential amendments and their implications for Belgian legislation.
• 2. Stakeholder activation & policy recommendations: Mapping out key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patient organisations to recognise the importance of collaboration. Gather valuable insights and draft comprehensive policy recommendations through expert consultations with Belgian and European professional organisations. These recommendations focused on implementing concrete solutions to minimize the risk of exposure to hazardous drugs.
• 3. Policy & press outreach: Organised a roundtable discussion hosted by a member of parliament and the European Biosafety Network to amplify the message and engage policymakers. This event brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and representatives from professional organisations, and the Federal Administration to discuss the policy recommendations and foster support for legislative action.

From EU Directive to national impact: a case study about stakeholder collaboration & advocacy

Our approach consisted of a multi-stakeholder outreach and a collaborative methodology, starting with an in-depth consultation of the impacted stakeholders, engaging them in advocating for stronger legislation to protect healthcare professionals.

• Stakeholder mapping & engagement: Engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patient organizations for building consensus and driving policy change.
• Issue analysis, corporate positioning, stakeholder activation and policy recommendations; creating a collaborative platform through a round table to facilitate open dialogue, allowing stakeholders to discuss the policy recommendations grounded in evidence and tailored to the specific needs of the public. The stakeholders shared their perspectives and ultimately fostered support for legislative action.
• Policy & press outreach; Raise awareness and generate momentum for policy change through informing and educating policymakers and trade press by direct engagement with relevant government agencies to ensure the successful implementation of policy recommendations.