The joint action “Hope4Kids – Comprehensive Cancer Palliative Care for Children in Europe” aims to strengthen and harmonize pediatric palliative care (PPC) across Europe for all children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses.
Throughout Europe, many children suffer from serious, complex, or rare chronic diseases that significantly affect their quality of life and, in many cases, can shorten their life expectancy. PPC is not limited to end-of-life care: it is an active and holistic approach that can be provided from the moment of diagnosis, regardless of the type or stage of the disease, and in parallel with disease-specific or life-prolonging treatments. The goal of PPC is to prevent and alleviate suffering through the effective management of pain and other distressing symptoms, as well as providing psychological, social, and spiritual support to children and their families.
Access to specialist pediatric care across Europe remains uneven, and this care is often integrated late or inadequately into routine pediatric services. As a result, children, their families, and informal caregivers often receive inconsistent care. Hope4Kids addresses these challenges through a comprehensive and coordinated approach. Key expected outcomes include mapping pediatric pediatric care systems across Europe; developing harmonized, evidence-based pediatric pediatric care guidelines; implementing and evaluating four pilot interventions in more than 17 study sites; and developing education and training programs for healthcare professionals, families, informal caregivers, and educational staff. Hope4Kids will also create a European network of pediatric pediatric care professionals and collaborate with other European projects.
The four-year Hope4Kids project is coordinated by the Princess Máxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology in the Netherlands. The initiative is based on the cooperation of more than 50 partners and over 70 organizations from 23 European countries. Through this collaboration, Hope4Kids addresses inequalities in access to pediatric cancer care, quality of care, and integration into healthcare systems. Ultimately, this will ensure that all children and their families have timely access to high-quality pediatric cancer care, regardless of where they live.
IDIAPJGol joins a new European project to improve palliative care for children with cancer
