The Château de Namur was the scene, this Saturday, September 14, 2024, of the very first day organized by the Walloon First Line Platform (PPLW). This event aimed to bring together first and second line health and support actors to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the coordination of care in Wallonia.
The importance of integrated and collaborative care
The day began with a speech by Claude Decuyper, President of the PPLW, who highlighted the evolution of collaboration between care lines. “This day is intended to provide a time for sharing and consultation,” he said, recalling that the PPLW’s mission is to coordinate frontline stakeholders to co-construct coherent solutions with the public authorities. He stressed the importance of a “fluid and coordinated organization” of care, while deploring the fact that institutional quarrels are still slowing down this process.
Claude Decuyper also insisted on the PPLW’s wish that the Proxisanté decree be implemented quickly and effectively and that the considerable work carried out by PPLW stakeholders over the last two years be continued.
The Minister of Health, Yves Coppieters, also present on this day, described Proxisanté as: “a unique opportunity to bring care closer to citizens, in a fair and efficient manner”. The Minister committed to continuing the consultation with the actors on the ground to move this issue forward.
Complementary care lines: towards better organization
Jean-Luc Belche, general practitioner and lecturer at the University of Liège, spoke to highlight the need for more effective structuring between care lines in Belgium. His presentation entitled “Complementary care lines?” highlighted the current fragmentation of the health system and called for a more coherent territorialized approach. According to Belche, such structuring would allow for better readability of the offer and facilitate the coordination of care between the different actors. He also highlighted the need for increased consultation between hospitals and outpatient care for care that is more adapted to the realities of the population.
Brussels experiences and territorialization of care
Gaétane Thirion, coordinator of BRUSANO, shared feedback on the territorialisation of care in Brussels. She explained how the region set up care basins to better meet local needs. With more than 4,000 social and health structures in the territory, Brussels has had to overcome several challenges, including saturation of services and fragmentation of the offer. Thirion stressed that the organisation by basins ensures better coordination of services and more appropriate care for patients.
Case Managers’ innovative project for rare diseases
Albert Counet, coordinator at the Belgian Francophone Huntington League, presented an innovative project of “Case Managers” for patients with rare diseases. This project, designed to coordinate the complex care of these patients, involves the establishment of personalized support throughout the life course. Counet recalled that “empowering the patient” and creating a solid network around him are essential to improve his quality of life. This project, which will be tested on four neurodegenerative pathologies, is a concrete example of a new integrated approach to care.
A conclusion looking to the future
This first day of the PPLW allowed concrete avenues to emerge for better coordination of care. Collaboration between the first and second lines is seen as essential to improve the continuity of care and respond to current challenges. The establishment of a more integrated healthcare ecosystem in Wallonia seems more within reach than ever, with initiatives such as those presented during this day. Claude Decuyper concluded by emphasizing the importance of moving forward: “It is better to think about change than to change the bandage,” he declared with conviction, calling on those in the field to continue this dynamic of innovation.
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