Netherlands to install free sun cream dispensers for record skin cancer levels

Last updated on June 14th, 2023 at 02:00 am

In an effort to manage record levels of skin cancer, the Dutch government is planning to install free sun cream dispensers at schools, universities, parks, sports venues and festivals across the country this summer.

It said it wanted all citizens of the Netherlands to have access to sun protection and not be discouraged by factors such as cost or inconvenience.

The public health drive is thought to be similar in scale only to Australia’s decades-long slip, slop, slap campaign, encouraging people to slip on a shirt, slop on sun cream, and slap on a hat. Dutch authorities hope the initiative will turn the act of applying sun cream into a habit.

Venlo-Venray Hospital is reported to be working with state health insurers to fund sun cream provision across several municipalities in 120 primary schools.

According to the public broadcaster NOS, one of the skin doctors at the clinic had arrived at the idea of converting hand disinfectant dispensers installed during the pandemic to hold sun cream.

Sun cream is counted among the best protection against skin cancer. Medical authorities across Europe have been raising concerns over rising cases of the disease over the past two decades. In neighbouring Germany, the number of deaths from skin cancer in 2021 was 55% higher than the figure reported in 2001, according to the Federal Office of Statistics.

Experts believe countries could make considerable healthcare savings through a reduction in skin cancer cases.