IDIAPJGol is one of the 70 organizations participating in the new European project HOPE4Kids, an initiative aimed at improving pediatric palliative care for children with cancer. The consortium includes research institutions, healthcare centers, policymakers, and patient associations from 23 European countries.

IDIAPJGol is represented by Betlem Salvador, coordinator of the Northern Metropolitan Research Support Unit.

The HOPE4Kids project (an acronym for Holistic Oncological Palliative Care 4 Europe’s Kids) held its inaugural meeting on October 23 and 24 in Amsterdam.

IDIAPJGol is the only primary care organization in the consortium, which also includes Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and the Catalan Department of Health as Catalan representatives.
The project is coordinated by the Princess Máxima Center in Amsterdam, the largest pediatric oncology center in Europe, and is funded by the EU4Health program with 12 million euros. Over the next four years, it will develop clinical practice guidelines, training programs, digital tools, and individualized care plans to improve the quality of life of children and their families.

A European initiative for more humane care

Each year, around 25,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in Europe. Although medical treatment continues to advance, palliative care remains uneven across countries and hospitals. HOPE4Kids seeks to change this reality and promote a model that combines disease treatment with comprehensive physical, emotional, and social support from diagnosis through the end of life.

Identifying inequalities and looking to the future

The consortium will create a map showing the current state of pediatric palliative care in Europe, identifying territorial disparities, coordination gaps, training barriers, and areas for improvement. This analysis will enable each country to adapt public policies and strengthen resources where they are most needed. The project aims to build a more equitable, accessible, and humane system for all children with cancer in Europe.