Ernst Kuipers is an innovative leader with extensive healthcare experience as clinician, executive, and Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands. He currently serves as Vice-President Research for Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
As Health Minister (2022 to 2024), Ernst Kuipers focused on integrated care and nationwide healthcare reform to improve quality, sustainability and patient and workforce experience. He passed laws among others on electronic health data exchange and closed an Integral Care Agreement as well as a Green Healthcare Deal. He co-led drafting the 2024 WHO resolution on climate and health and improved national pandemic and disaster preparedness. He is a member of the UN/WHO Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, the WHO Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health and a Board Member of HIMSS
Ernst previously served Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam as CEO (2013 – 2022) and professor of medicine and department chair (2000 – 2012). As CEO, he led the transformation to a ‘smart’ and sustainable hospital, facilitated by a unique matrix organizational structure, a dedicated strategy, and various networks including the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA).
Ernst was member of the Governing Boards of the National University Health System in Singapore and Curacao Medical Center. He chaired the Dutch Federation of UMCs, the Dutch National Emergency Medicine Network, and EUHA. He led national healthcare coordination and capacity management during the covid pandemic.
Kuipers trained as gastroenterologist and is renowned for his research on gastrointestinal cancer. He contributed to international guidelines and advised governments and societies across the globe on cancer screening. He received various international awards and was declared as most influential person in Dutch healthcare. He was installed by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands as Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau (2024).
