World COPD Day 2024 - Belgium's COPD policy under review

On the occasion of the World COPD Day 2024, the recently founded Belgian Lung Foundation brought together patients, experts and MPs to discuss the COPD policy in Belgium.

Belgium dangles at the bottom of the COPD index, which compares the COPD policies of 34 countries. This is as a result of late diagnoses and poor cooperation between different healthcare providers during the treatment process.

The Belgian Lung Foundation therefore calls for continued efforts to improve Belgium's COPD policy. 
Experts including Prof Dr Wim Janssens, Prof Dr Thérèse Lappere and Prof Dr Lies Lahousse called for a focus on prevention, early detection, effective treatment methods and the promotion of treatment compliance.

The debate with MPs revealed a general consensus to take action on three concrete points:
- integrated and multidisciplinary care pathways
- ‘Proper use of medicines’ consultations by pharmacists and general practitioners
- a stricter tobacco policy

Read the full report of the experts' appeals, the debate and the conclusions of the president of the Belgian Lung Foundation, Prof Dr Cataldo. The report is available in Dutch and French.