Summary:
The joint action Hope4Kids – Comprehensive Oncological Palliative Care for the Children of Europe” aims to strengthen and harmonize pediatric palliative care (PPC) across Europe for all children living with life‑threatening or life‑limiting conditions.
Across Europe, many children suffer from severe, complex, or rare chronic illnesses that significantly affect their quality of life and, in many cases, may 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 relieve suffering through effective management of pain and other distressing symptoms, as well as to provide psychological, social, and spiritual support to children and their families.
Access to specialized pediatric care across Europe remains unequal, and this care is often integrated late or inadequately into standard pediatric services. As a result, children, their families, and informal caregivers frequently receive inconsistent care. Hope4Kids addresses these challenges through a comprehensive and coordinated approach. Key expected outcomes include mapping PPC systems across Europe; developing harmonized, evidence‑based PPC guidelines; implementing and evaluating four pilot interventions in more than 17 study centers; and developing education and training programs for healthcare professionals, families, informal caregivers, and educational staff. Hope4Kids will also create a European network of PPC professionals and collaborate with other European projects.
The Hope4Kids project spans four years and is coordinated by the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric 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 PPC, the quality of care, and its integration into health systems. Ultimately, this will ensure that all children and their families have timely access to high‑quality pediatric oncological care, regardless of where they live.
Disclaimer:
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
