From vision to action: PREWAPHARM's official kickoff event
April 24 marked a milestone in the fight against pharmaceutical pollution in Northwest Europe. At the Provincial House of Drenthe, TCNN proudly launched the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) PREWAPHARM project - a major step forward in tackling pharmaceutical residues in our water systems.
With a room full of committed professionals — from policymakers and healthcare/pharmaceutical experts to water tech innovators and environmental specialists — the kickoff event sparked meaningful discussions on how cross-border, cross-sector collaboration can drive real, lasting impact.
A powerful line-up of perspectives
We were honored to hear from distinguished panelists representing seven countries, each offering valuable insights into regional challenges and potential solutions. Our deep thanks go to:
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Harrie Timmer, Vereniging van Waterbedrijven in Nederland (Vewin)
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Bastiaan Venhuis, Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport
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Dirk Halet, VITO
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Dr. Marie Louise Uwizeye, Age Water Management Agency
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Demet Antakyali, Sweco
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Benoit Deprez, Institut Pasteur de Lille
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Cristin Ryan, Trinity College Dublin
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Alexandra Kroll, Swiss Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology
Your contributions helped lay the groundwork for a strong, unified strategy to reduce pharmaceutical pollution across the region. Also, a heartfelt thank you to Provincie Drenthe and Provincial Executive Willemien Meeuwissen for their warm welcome and support in hosting this event.
From discussion to action
The day concluded with insightful technical visits to three pioneering sites:
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Martini Ziekenhuis
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RWZI Garmerwolde
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Isala Ziekenhuis Meppel
These visits highlighted that best practices are already in motion and PREWAPHARM will ensure that such innovative approaches are shared and implemented across Northwest Europe.
This is just the beginning. Follow PREWAPHARM’s journey as we work together to protect our waters, safeguard public health, and build a more sustainable future.
Please feel free to reach out to us with any potential questions via our contact page
