About ECHO
Our story
ECHO is the first and only organisation representing children’s hospitals at European level.
Founded in 2016 by four hospitals, ECHO has grown into a network of 17 leading paediatric institutions across Europe and beyond.
Our members provide highly specialised care for complex
paediatric patients and play a vital role in their national
healthcare systems. Through collaboration, advocacy, and
shared expertise, ECHO supports them in improving
paediatric care and outcomes across Europe
Why ECHO?
Children and young people face unique healthcare challenges that require specialised expertise, dedicated research, and tailored approaches to care. Many rare and complex paediatric conditions affect relatively small patient populations, making it difficult for individual institutions or countries to generate sufficient evidence, advance research, and accelerate the development of innovative treatments.
At the same time, opportunities for benchmarking and collaboration among children’s hospitals across Europe remains limited. This restricts the ability to share best practices, measure outcomes consistently, learn from one another, and drive continuous improvements in quality and performance. Greater cooperation at a European level is essential to strengthen paediatric healthcare systems, accelerate innovation and improve outcomes for children and young people.
Despite their critical role in society, the needs of children and adolescents are often underrepresented in healthcare policy, research agendas, and innovation programmes. As a result, the specific priorities of paediatric healthcare do not always receive the visibility, investment, and recognition they deserve. ECHO was established to address these challenges by bringing together Europe’s leading children’s hospitals in a shared commitment to excellence, collaboration, and advocacy. By working collectively, ECHO strengthens the voice of children’s hospitals and helps ensure that every child and young person has the best possible opportunity for a healthy future.
ECHO works to:
Place children, young people, and their families at the centre of everything we do
Foster collaboration in research, benchmarking, quality improvement, and knowledge exchange
Strengthen the visibility and influence of children’s hospitals within European health, research, and innovation policies and programmes
Support innovation that improves the quality, safety, outcomes, and experiences of care for children and young people
Mission
ECHO advocates for children's health and their right to access the highest quality healthcare. By fostering collaboration among Europe's leading children's hospitals, ECHO works to improve health outcomes for children and young people, advance research and innovation, and ensure that their unique healthcare needs are recognised and prioritised.
Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the promotion of excellence in paediatric care, ECHO strengthens the collective voice of children's hospitals across Europe. Together, we strive to ensure that every child has the opportunity to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing.
Vision
ECHO envisions a Europe where every child and young person has equitable access to the highest standards of hospital care.
As the united voice of children's hospitals in Europe, ECHO champions children's rights and promotes holistic family-centred care. By fostering cross-border collaboration, innovation, and the exchange of expertise, ECHO helps build a stronger, more connected paediatric healthcare community that improves the lives of children, young people, and their families across Europe.