Sciensano

Sciensano is a

environment are inherently connected with each other. The merger became official on April 1, 2018.^[1]^[2]

Activities

Environmental health: Sciensano researches and monitors environmental health and environmental threats to human health. For example, it assesses the risks posed to biosafety by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and develops environmental indicators for a healthier and more environmentally friendly pesticide use. It also investigates the health impact of air pollution.^[3]
Food consumption and food safety: Sciensano analyses the
dietary recommendations. It also investigates the presence and impact of GMOs, food pathogens, food contaminants, pesticide residues, food additives, nanomaterials and other materials that come into contact with food.^[3]

Health and disease monitoring: through different methods, such as nationwide
diabetes. This allows Sciensano to detect and evaluate threats, and to support health authorities in their fight against these diseases.^[3]

Quality of health care: together with the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre and the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance, Sciensano evaluates the quality of the Belgian health care system. For this purpose, it makes use of health indicators, coordinates national databases, keeps track of hospital-acquired infections, makes complex medical diagnoses as a scientific reference authority, and more. Sciensano's end goal is to improve the quality of health care and patient outcomes.^[3]
Vaccines, medications and health products: Sciensano supports the
illegal drugs within the framework of the Belgian Early Warning System Drugs.^[4]

Quality of medical laboratories: Sciensano is responsible for the inspection and certification of medical laboratories in Belgium, especially with regard to samples of human origin. It supervises the correct handling of sample material and the use of standardised analytical methods, and provides external quality assurance.^[3]
Animal health: Sciensano supports the
Federal Public Service Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment and front-line organisations in their tasks related to animal health and food safety. To this end, it monitors zoonoses as well as epizootics for the impact they may have on human health through the food chain as well as purely for their socio-economical impact on animal husbandry.^[3]

^ "Oprichting van het nieuwe federale onderzoekscentrum Sciensano" [Establishment of the new federal research center Sciensano]. www.sciensano.be (in Dutch). Sciensano. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
^ "About Sciensano". www.sciensano.be. Sciensano. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Levenslang gezond" [Healthy all life long] (PDF). www.sciensano.be (in Dutch). Sciensano. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
^ "SCIENSANO & Illegal drugs". www.sciensano.be. Sciensano. Retrieved 18 July 2018.