Population health management in Belgium: a call-to-action and case study.

Betty Steenkamer, Bert Vaes, Ernst Rietzschel, John Crombez, Sabina De Geest, Fabian Demeure, Marijke Gielen, Michel P Hermans, Stefan Teughels, Peter Vanacker, Thierry van der Schueren, Steven Simoens

Journal: BMC health services research 2023;23(1):659

PMID: 37340416

Free Full Text on BioMed Central View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Although there are already success stories, population health management in Belgium is still in its infancy. A health system transformation approach such as population health management may be suited to address the public health issue of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as this is one of the main causes of mortality in Belgium. This article aims to raise awareness about population health management in Belgium by: (a) eliciting barriers and recommendations for its implementation as perceived by local stakeholders; (b) developing a population health management approach to secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; and (c) providing a roadmap to introduce population health management in Belgium.

METHODS

Two virtual focus group discussions were organized with 11 high-level decision makers in medicine, policy and science between October and December 2021. A semi-structured guide based on a literature review was used to anchor discussions. These qualitative data were studied by means of an inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Seven inter-related barriers and recommendations towards the development of population health management in Belgium were identified. These related to responsibilities of different layers of government, shared responsibility for the health of the population, a learning health system, payment models, data and knowledge infrastructure, collaborative relationships and community involvement. The introduction of a population health management approach to secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease may act as a proof-of-concept with a view to roll out population health management in Belgium.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need to instill a sense of urgency among all stakeholders to develop a joint population-oriented vision in Belgium. This call-to-action requires the support and active involvement of all Belgian stakeholders, both at the national and regional level.

Address: Stichting Gezondheidscentra Eindhoven - STROOMZ NL, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.; Department of Internal Medicine & Paediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.; Biobanking and Cardiovascular Prevention, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.; Architecture of a Qualitative, Sustainable and Inclusive Health system (AQSIH), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.; Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.; Cardiology Department, CHU UCL Mont-Godinne, Namur, Belgium.; Independent Health Insurance Funds, Brussels, Belgium.; Endocrinology & Nutrition, Cliniques universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.; Medical School, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.; Domus Medica, Antwerp, Belgium.; Department of Neurology, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium.; Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.; Department of Translational Neuroscience, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.; Société Scientifique de Médecine Générale, Brussels, Belgium.; Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09626-x

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Belgium, Population Health Management, Cardiovascular Diseases, Focus Groups, Government