A reform of Belgium's intensive care was recommended by the Federal Centre for Healthcare Expertise (KCE). It advocated for a two-tier system, adequate scale, simplified funding, and a single national database.
Belgium has numerous intensive care beds, but the care is fragmented, unevenly distributed, and often fails to align with demand, according to KCE. The research institute suggests splitting intensive care into general and specialised levels. These two tiers would coordinate on cooperation and patient transfers, allowing resources, staff, and infrastructure to align more efficiently with patient needs and facilitating faster placement in appropriate units.
The KCE’s board also proposes a minimum capacity of 12 beds per unit. These beds should be readily available for emergencies, such as pandemics, disasters, or sudden increases in demand.
The organisation also seeks to overhaul the current funding system. "The current funding is overly complex and does not adequately reflect the complexity of intensive care," the KCE stated. It recommends a shift to a system where hospitals are reimbursed per admission, with potential additional resources for intensive care if specific quality criteria are met.
Furthermore, the KCE underscores the importance of a single national database. Currently, it is challenging to quickly ascertain the number of available beds, the severity of patients’ conditions, or the availability of staff. A central information system would enable better decision-making.
