Aims and approach In order to chart the way for long-tenn policies in the field of public health, the Dutch government needs to have the best possible insight into potential future trends and the problems to which these could give rise. It was with a view to compiling a number of long-range studies that the independent Steering Committee on Future Health Scenarios was set up in 1983. In 1988 this body appointed a board of experts to sUivey the future of Chronic Diseases. Three chronic diseases have been selected: diabetes mellitus, CNSLD (chronic non-specific lung disease) and rheumatoid...

The report Scenarios on Rheumatoid Arthritis 1990--2005 is the third specialized report of the Chronic Diseases Scenario Project. An exploration has been made of the likely trends in the number of patients, the number of severity of consequences and complications, the quality of life and the demands likely to be made on the health system as a result of rheumatoid arthritis up to the year 2005.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a growing problem. Key issues therefore include the need for expansion of health care facilities and health care innovations and the prospects to prevent the...