In Belgium, abortion at the request of the woman is possible during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy (calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period). Legal restrictions on abortion during the second trimester of pregnancy lead to medical tourism in neighboring countries. An abortion in the second trimester can be safely performed when carried out by a skilled health worker.

Every year, 800 to 900 new HIV diagnoses are made in Belgium. This corresponds to two to three diagnoses per day. An estimated 20,000 people in Belgium are living with HIV, and 2,000 to 3,000 people are still unaware that they are infected.

Since February 1st, 2020, the European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) has been led by our compatriot Hans Kluge. From the Danish capital Copenhagen, he monitors health policy in the 53 countries that belong to the European part of the WHO.

Exposure to nature reduces symptoms of stress, burnout, sleep problems, depression, and shows positive effects on high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and chronic pain. These are all conditions that are prevalent and could benefit from additional approaches for management. The question is how GP’s can facilitate visits to nature, as it can be an extra tool, complementary to the current approach for chronic conditions and mental health issues.

Climate change, environmental pollution, loss of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the lack of nature in an urban environment, have a negative impact on human health and well-being.1-3 Health care professionals are increasingly urged to integrate planetary health considerations in ethical practice.4,5 After all, taking care of the patient also means taking care of the systems that generate the well-being and healthy life of the patient and ourselves.

The use of e-cigarettes as an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes is becoming more and more popular. The latest Health Survey by Sciensano (2018) shows that 15.5% of the Belgian population has already used an e-cigarette. The main reasons for using this alternative are to quit smoking, reduce smoking, and enjoy the experience of smoking an e-cigarette.

Every family physician makes every day professional choices. Are antibiotics necessary for this patient’s respiratory infection? Does this man with retrosternal pain have to go to the emergency room? Or is ‘wait and see’ a better option? And, after a telephone consultation, is it necessary to see the patient face to face? Are there enough arguments for spontaneous healing? You make many of these choices and decision points ‘automatically’, based on knowledge and experience. Making such choices feels obvious, as a natural part of being a doctor.

Als professor huisartsgeneeskunde combineert Ann Van den Bruel heel wat comités en werkgroepen met haar deeltijdse job als huisarts. Zo werkte ze de afgelopen maanden actief mee aan de New Deal voor de huisartsgeneeskunde én stond ze tegelijkertijd mee in voor het programma van de WONCA Europe Conference.

Twee geuren die elke huisarts onmiskenbaar herkent: de geur van overmatig zweet en de geur van urine. In een leefgroep van twintig tieners, zoals in het Zeepreventorium, is die eerste in overmaat aanwezig.

Herhaling is de moeder van de studie of om het intellectueel niveau op te krikken: ‘repetitio est mater studiorum’. Maar in onze praktijk willen we vooral ‘dapper’ zijn, dat betekent: niet te veel doen, ook niet te weinig, niet arrogant overkomen en niet laf handelen.