Belgium must strengthen interactions between its defence and health sectors to be better prepared for possible future epidemics. Furthermore, it should expand its testing capacity and take greater account of chemical and biological threats to prepare risk management plans.
The findings follow an assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) of how Belgium prepared is to respond to health crises. The Public Health Ministry will work on the recommendations and propose an action plan by the end of this year.
"This ECDC evaluation already indicates that we have improved our preparedness on several fronts in recent years. But it also indicates where there is still work to be done with some welcome recommendations," said Dirk Ramaekers, president of the Public Health Ministry.
Every three years, the ECDC assesses the preparedness and response of EU Member States to health crises. Belgium was the first country to be evaluated.
A country of complexity
Analysis was carried out by team of 13 experts from ECDC, the European Commission and an expert per Member State who reviewed preparedness and crisis management plans. This was followed by a five-day inspection visit in Belgium which examined health emergency management, zoonoses (infectious diseases that can pass from animals to humans) and antimicrobial resistance.
The Public Health Ministry said that the report is generally positive. For instance, one of the positive points is the close cooperation between the federal level and the regions, "although Belgium is a complex country due to its federated structure."
One area for improvement is in the current geopolitical context, where Belgium needs to include the risks associated with chemical and biological threats. Additionally, the country should strengthen interactions between the defence and health sectors, both at the Belgian and European levels, as the risk of international conflict cannot be ruled out.
Testing capabilities should also be strengthened by expanding testing, detection and surveillance. This would boost readiness in the event of an outbreak, epidemic or pandemic.
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The Public Health Ministry, together with the regions and various partners, will prepare an action plan that will be on the agenda of the Interministerial Conference on Public Health after the summer and will be presented by the end of 2024.
The Care Department also sees room for improvement at the Flemish level. "We must continue to invest in methods, systems, procedures and reserves that can be flexibly deployed and, above all, scaled up, which we must be able to call on when the next crisis arises."
