[Towards greater involvement by the Academy in health policy]

The essential tasks of the "Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België" include, next to the scientific aspects, the rules concerning the practice of medicine. Therefore a close cooperation with the authorities is an absolute must. In former days propositions and positive considerations were already formulated in that sense. We may think of the evaluation of the fast development of science, of the specialization in medical branches, genetics and informatics. On the one hand and on the other hand the need of a pluridisciplinarian approach associated with the medical development. With regard for existing advisory organs, the Academy's efforts must offer an added value, considering the control, the reevaluation and the reconsideration of problems. That is the reason why the Academy should be informed about these institutions and their mandates. The fundamental redistribution of the federal competences concerning public health is also extremely important. Finally a closer dialogue with our sister-institution, the "Académie royale de Médecine de Belgique" is indispensable to the consequent national influence and to our common international echo.