The centre
History
In 1957, Prof L. Van Bogaert founded, within the framework of the Belgian association for neurology, the "Belgian study group for Multiple sclerosis", with the intention to stimulate scientific research and to organise/provide a consultation service for people with MS.
According to a national inquiry in that same year, it appeared that in Belgium there were only 10 beds available in nursing institutions for persons with MS.
Dr. Ch. J. Ketelaer, initiated the consultation service but also wanted to set up a treatment centre for people with MS. In association with the study group of the Belgian "liga" for Multiple sclerosis, permission for treatment was granted by the ministry of public health, under the social insurance scheme.
In 1960, the first specialized institution was set up for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of persons with MS and also for patients with related demyelinating disorders. The centre got the official denomination: "Nationaal Schiftings- en Readaptatie centrum voor Multiple sclerosis vzw", better known under the popular denomination "MS clinic". In 1996, the official denomination of the institution changed into "National Multiple Sclerosis Centre vzw".
Initially it was started with 20 inpatient beds and this number has increased to the 134 hospital beds present now.
Dr. Ch. J. Ketelaer was the driving force at the establishment and during the creation of the institution, and was helped by the convent community of the sisters Ursulinen of Tildonk, who provided the necessary buildings and areas. Initially the sisters also took care of the patients and the daily control of the clinic itself.
Together with the many employees, the founders have succeeded in expanding this centre so that today it is known both nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence for the care of those with MS.
During the middle of the 1980's the rehabilitation centre also developed the ambulatory (outpatient) rehabilitation of persons with MS. By means of a Riziv-rehabilitation convention/agreement, which became effective on 1 March 1993, the centre can treat up to 70 persons in the ambulatory rehabilitation programs each day.
