Task
Forces

The Board and the GA of the Belgian Academy of Paediatrics in 2020 resolutely opted for working through Task Forces for three reasons:

1. In order to be less dependent on changes in Board members and Presidents,
2. To offer more continuity to long-term projects and
3. To distribute the tasks among a larger group of volunteers,

With each Board Member being the inspirer of one (or more) Task Forces.

Various paediatricians from different associations and universities were recruited for their interest and/or expertise in the field in order to meet the set objectives of various strategic, scientific, financial and educational Task Forces.

Every two years, the new president and board and GA members will review the achieved goals and prioritize future objectives.

Strategic
Linking (current and future) Paediatric Care to Paediatric Training • Neonatal Care/ Low variable care • Transmural care • the Paediatric COVID 19 Task Force. Recognition of paediatric sub-specialities.
Linking (current and future) Paediatric Care to Paediatric Training

This Task Force is aiming to redefine the general goals as well as the skills and competencies that are part of the paediatric training, based on previous statements of the European Academy of Paediatrics as well as the current practice in Belgium. The sub-quotas should also be adjusted to this, as well as a proposition to change the law of 1979 describing the criteria for the recognition of paediatricians.

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Neonatal Care/ Low variable care

First point of action of this Task Force is to continue the fight against the current law of low variable care since the diagnosis of the baby is not taken into account. The newborn is not regarded as a separate individual who deserves appropriate financing. Second action point is to set up a closer collaboration between neonatologists and paediatricians in the interest of the newborn. Working on national guidelines is a priority .

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Transmural care

Healthcare is changing rapidly and is experiencing a transition to transmural, integrated and quality-driven patient-centered care with more focus on ambulatory follow-up and care in the home environment and a shift from curative to more preventive care. Targeting children and adolescents in this healthcare-transition secures large health benefits on a longer term: growing up to be as healthy and independent adults as possible with maximum health- and development opportunities: a health care system for children that should evolve more to Community Care Paediatrics.

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Paediatric Covid-19 Task Force

In March 2020 some paediatric infectious disease specialists and presidents of paediatric associations decided to meet virtually every week to get an overview of the challenges and to provide a coordinated response across Belgium. These weekly ZOOM meetings made it possible for Belgian paediatrics to speak with one voice almost throughout this pandemic with clear messages to the authorities and the population.

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Recognition of paediatric subspecialties

This Task-Force wants to finally achieve official recognition of Paediatric subspecialties in Belgium in order to assure: a specific, qualitative approach (“child is not a little adult”) // new techniques and medications become accessible for children // legal texts referring to special competences in paediatricians can be executed

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Scientific
Coordinating scientific paediatric events as well as child-related events in Belgium, Coordination of the Belgian Journal of Paediatrics, Task Force Nutrition and the Task Force Vaccination.
Scientific paediatric & child-related events coordination

In Belgium, many scientific activities are organized for pediatricians and trainees in pediatrics by different national, regional and local authorities. By concentrating the information, overview can be optimized with increased visibility and more efficient spread of programs and registration modalities.

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Task Force Vaccination

The major public health impact of paediatric immunization is known for a very long time. Covid-19 crisis has however put a focus on hopes, achievements and challenges related with immunization. As paediatricians, our responsibility is definitively to be involved in creating the conditions for a broad and consistent preventive program that includes an optimal immunization schedule for each child.

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Belgian Journal of Paediatrics

The Belgian Journal of Paediatrics aims to connect all Belgian paediatricians with stimulating, scientifically sound, peer-reviewed articles. The Journal is published quarterly. The printed version is sent to all Belgian paediatricians and trainees in paediatrics. The electronic version is available on the website of the BVK/SBP.

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Task Force Nutrition

The “Nutrition Committee” was created long time ago within the Vlaamse Vereniging voor Kindergeneeskunde.The mission of this committee is to issue on a regular basis scientific and evidence based recommendations on nutritional issues for children, involving also dieticians and Kind en Gezin. It is the ambition to enlarge this group to a national level. Existing guidelines will be reviewed at a national level

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Financial
Revalorisation of Paediatric Care: this includes striving for correct financing of activities as paediatric day hospital or provisional admissions, as well as for PICU transports and complex consultations.
Revalorisation of Paediatric Care

Together with the recognition of paediatric subspecialties in paediatrics, this task-force is advocating for better honouring of first consultations of referred patients, complex consultations, multidisciplinary meetings as well as multidisciplinary consultations. The correct financing of activities in the day hospital as well as provisional admissions must make it possible to implement a more child-friendly policy and transmural care. More attention and better financing of interventions focusing on primary and secondary prevention by paediatricians can bring huge savings to society in the long run, both financially and in terms of the health of the population.

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Education
Linking (current and future) Paediatric care to Paediatric Training: this Task force will deal with updating the current paediatric core curriculum as well as follow-up on the subquota dossier
Linking (current and future) Paediatric Care to Paediatric Training

This Task Force is aiming to redefine the general goals as well as the skills and competencies that are part of the paediatric training, based on previous statements of the European Academy of Paediatrics as well as the current practice in Belgium. The sub-quotas should also be adjusted to this, as well as a proposition to change the law of 1979 describing the criteria for the recognition of paediatricians.

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Society
For medio 2020 till 2022, the Task Force developing the Joy Platform has been retained: the platform will extend from Covid-related information to general topics on well-being and quality of life
Children’s Rights in Healthcare

The Joy Platform aims to set up a long-term campaign to raise awareness for children’s rights and welfare in Belgium. This will be done in Belgium’s three official languages, putting and keeping the rights and welfare of children at the centre of every decision at every level, both within this Covid-19 area and Exit period and afterwards, in a sustainable way. Because children and young people are our future!

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