HealthNet TPO

HealthNet TPO (Stichting HealthNet Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation) is an international non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands that works in war- and disaster-affected areas. Established in 1992, it grew out of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) to bridge the gap between emergency relief and structural development aid. The organisation was formed through the merger of HealthNet International (HNI), which specialised in strengthening health structures and treating communicable diseases, and the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO), a leading body in psychosocial support and scientific research into the psychosocial consequences of war and disaster. This combination of practical field experience and academic rigour allows HealthNet TPO to develop and implement innovative care systems in conflict and disaster settings. The organisation's mission is to support and strengthen communities affected by conflict or disaster so they may regain control of their own health and wellbeing. It works closely with local communities, health workers, and governments to make health services stronger, support mental health, and protect vulnerable groups. HealthNet TPO operates across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, combining emergency response with long-term impact, and is committed to localisation — working with national staff who collaborate with governments, local actors, institutions, and communities to lead recovery. It was one of the first organisations to advocate for integrating mental health support into post-conflict health systems. HealthNet TPO's work is organised around pillars including healthcare (ensuring and improving access to essential healthcare), mental wellbeing (strengthening psychosocial wellbeing to face the consequences of conflict), and community resilience (empowering local communities to build sustainable peace). Its thematic areas include mental health and psychosocial care, disease control, health financing, and health system strengthening, with cross-cutting approaches such as community mobilisation and capacity development. In 2025 alone, the organisation reports reaching 7 million people with healthcare services, 3.5 million people with health education messages, 178,000 people with mental health and psychosocial services, and 43,000 people with family planning services. It is currently active in Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, and South Sudan, and has historically worked in Cambodia, DR Congo, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.

HealthNet TPO was established in 1992, emerging from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) to fill the gap between emergency relief and structural development aid. The organisation is a merger of two entities: HealthNet International (HNI) and the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO). HNI brought knowledge and experience in strengthening health structures and treating communicable diseases, while TPO was a leading organisation in psychosocial support and scientific research into the psychosocial consequences of wars and disasters. The combination of HNI's practical experience and TPO's academic background made it possible to develop and implement innovative care systems in war- and disaster-affected areas. From its base in the Netherlands, HealthNet TPO has worked in a range of conflict- and disaster-affected countries. Over its history, its operational footprint has included Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, DR Congo, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, and the Netherlands. The organisation has been active in Afghanistan for many years, responding to earthquakes, conflict, and complex humanitarian emergencies. It has also worked in Colombia, where it supports community resilience and mental health, and in Burundi and South Sudan. A defining feature of HealthNet TPO's history is its early advocacy for integrating mental health and psychosocial support into post-conflict health systems. It was one of the first organisations to make this case, and its experience has shown that psychosocial support is essential to rebuilding communities. The organisation operates across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, ensuring that its work responds to immediate needs while also building sustainable systems and strengthening community resilience. It is equally committed to localisation, working with national staff who collaborate closely with governments, local actors, institutions, and communities to lead the path toward long-term recovery. Through this approach, it combines emergency response with long-term impact, supporting local leadership and promoting culturally relevant care to help create lasting systems that communities can rely on. In 2025, HealthNet TPO reported reaching 7 million people with healthcare services, 3.5 million people with health education messages, 178,000 people with mental health and psychosocial services, and 43,000 people with family planning services. The organisation continues to work in Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, and South Sudan, and remains focused on its mission to support and strengthen communities affected by conflict or disaster so they may regain control of their own health and wellbeing.

• 2025

  Reached 7 million people with healthcare services, 3.5 million with health education, 178,000 with mental health and psychosocial services, and 43,000 with family planning services.

• 1992

  HealthNet TPO established, emerging from Médecins Sans Frontières to bridge emergency relief and structural development aid.

• Merger of HealthNet International (HNI) and Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) forms HealthNet TPO.

International non-profit organisation operating across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, combining emergency response with long-term health system strengthening and localisation.

• Essential healthcare services

  Ensuring and improving access to essential healthcare in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

• Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)

  Strengthening psychosocial wellbeing to face the consequences of conflict, including psychological first aid training.

• Community resilience programmes

  Empowering local communities to build sustainable peace.

• Health education and sensitisation

  Reaching communities with health education messages.

• Family planning services

  Providing access to family planning services.

• Disease control programmes

  Preventing and treating communicable diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis.

• Health financing cooperatives

  Creating a social safety net through community cooperatives that pay small amounts for healthcare.

• Health system strengthening

  Helping local populations set up and strengthen health facilities, restore infrastructure, train doctors and health workers, and provide health education.

1. 1Home - HealthNet TPOhealthnettpo.org
2. 2About us - HealthNet TPOhealthnettpo.org
3. 3HealthNet TPO - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4HealthNet TPO - Wikipedia (Dutch)nl.wikipedia.org