BRUSSELS – Around 15 hospital paediatric units risk being closed by the Belgian authorities, it was reported Friday.

Belgian health minister Rudy Demotte plans to shut down all units that have less than 1,500 admissions annually and do not have a team of at least three paediatricians working full-time or the equivalent, La Libre Belgique said.

The minister plans to crate a new minimum threshold of 2,000 admissions per year for hospitals that have a maternity ward in addition to a paediatric unit.

According to Demotte, the new plan will improve the quality of paediatric care while imposing fiscal discipline.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news