• ACRONYM: HOPE4Kids

  • FULL NAME: Holistic Oncological Palliative care 4 Europe’s Kids
  • CALL: EU4H-2024-JA-IBA-03
  • PROJECT NO.: 101233078
  • FUNDING BODY: European Health and Digital Executive Agency
  • TOTAL BUDGET: 14,999,931.58
  • FUNDING: 11,999,945.30
  • DURATION: 48 months (October 2025 – September 2029)
  • PROJECT COORDINATION: PRINSES MAXIMA CENTRUM VOOR KINDERONCOLOGIE BV (Netherlands)

Every year, around 14,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in Europe. Although most survive thanks to advances in treatment, around 20% cannot be cured and die, often in hospital.

Paediatric palliative care (PPC) seeks to alleviate the physical, emotional and social suffering of patients and their families, but many children with cancer do not receive specialised palliative care, leading to deficiencies in symptom management, psychosocial support and bereavement care.

The Joint European action —HOPE4Kids— responds to differences between European countries in the availability and quality of PPC and promotes high-quality palliative care in paediatric oncology. The project brings together stakeholders from all Member States and countries associated with EU4Health to advance and improve PPC in Europe, addressing six key themes: symptom management, advance planning, shared decision-making, psychosocial care, pre-loss support and care models.

  • To improve care for children affected by cancer by promoting a coordinated approach at European Union level and in countries associated with the EU4Health programme.
  • Ensure that the actions taken promote access to PC in Member States, encouraging closer collaboration and the exchange of good practices between European Union countries and EU4Health programme partners interested in improving PC.
  • Increase awareness of current gaps in palliative care services and disseminate and share best models and effective practices that help reduce inequalities between regions and countries.
  • Develop and validate resources that facilitate the use and improvement of existing tools and interventions in order to improve the quality and accessibility of paediatric palliative care.
  • Expand and improve the information resources available to family members, informal carers, health professionals and other professionals, strengthening support for families and training for care teams.

The Joint Action consists of eight work packages (WPs). Four of these are cross-cutting: Coordination and Management, Communication and Dissemination, Evaluation, and Sustainability.

There are four other technical WPs: Analysis of the situation of paediatric palliative care in Europe; Clinical guidelines for paediatric palliative care; Design and implementation of pilot projects; Training for health professionals and information for children and parents.

The main results that can be transferred to the system are as follows:

  • Recommendations for possible improvements in paediatric palliative care (PPC).
  • Unified international guidelines for PPC using evidence-based methods.
  • Methodology for integrating shared decision-making into advanced care planning.
  • Integrated digital model to support home care.
  • Training and educational materials, as well as the basic European curriculum for PPC aimed at professional groups.

Biosistemak participates in the project as an affiliated entity, with the Murcia Health Service (SMS) as its competent authority in Spain. In terms of specific activities to be carried out, Biosistemak is the leader of WP 4, Sustainability, together with KKZ (Stichting Kenniscentrum Kinderpalliatieve Zorg / Knowledge Centre for Paediatric Palliative Care Foundation, Netherlands).

On the other hand, Biosistemak leads Task 7.5. Evaluation of the pilots, in which the evaluation framework for all the pilots to be implemented during the project will be designed. In addition, it leads one of the pilots to be implemented, specifically the one related to digital support for home care. Finally, it is participating in the pilot addressing shared decision-making in advanced care planning.

With the support of Biosistemak, Osakidetza is participating in both pilots: digital support for home care and shared decision-making in advanced care planning.

Nerea González, Maite Zabala, Igor Larrañaga, Ane Rodríguez, Ane Fullaondo.