Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+) is working with partners at the Uniklinik Aachen, the Clinique CHC MontLégia and the CHR de la Citadelle in Liège to establish a Euroregional Center for Pediatric Surgery. Pediatric surgery is a highly specialized field that requires extensive education and training. However, European research has shown that there are relatively few pediatric surgery centers in the Netherlands and Belgium compared to other European countries such as Germany. The Netherlands has a number of large pediatric surgery centers scattered throughout the country, but the southern part of the country lacks such a facility to some extent. In practice, this means that children in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine who need surgery often have to travel far from home and family to receive treatment. Against this background, the partner hospitals are working together to provide high-quality and future-proof pediatric surgical care in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. Click here for more background information.
An obstacle from practice: Pediatric surgeons and their professional qualifications
An example of a legal obstacle concerns the qualifications of pediatric surgeons. Indeed, a crucial aspect of the future center is that the pediatric surgeons involved will be able to practice in all three countries where the center is located. The Center also aims to train new pediatric surgeons with a Euroregional mindset. Related questions concern the recognition of pediatric surgery as a medical specialty, practice and registration in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine and opportunities for cross-border training in pediatric surgery. Such issues were the subject of previous research conducted by ITEM on behalf of the MUMC+.