title: The development of a national HIV Plan in Belgium: Achieving consensus despite institutional complexity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of a national HIV Plan poses serious challenges to countries with a complex distribution of legal powers such as Belgium. This article explores how the Belgian national HIV Plan 2014-2019 was developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Applying the policy streams model of John Kingdon, the analysis of the HIV Plan development process was based on published government statements, parliamentary documents, and websites of stakeholders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Federal Ministry of Health initiative to achieve the HIV Plan was characterized by a coordinating role with a participatory approach towards the other Belgian governments and stakeholders. The 2013 protocol agreement of the Belgian governments committed them to principles, actions, and cooperation, but not to budgets, priorities, or target figures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Federal government followed a successful strategy to create momentum and commitment to a common national vision on HIV/AIDS. The window of opportunity was not sufficient to create an implementation plan prior to the 2014 elections, and major challenges were left to the subsequent governments, including financing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The country of Belgium represents an example of a consensus strategy to achieve a national HIV Plan with its achievements and limits within institutional complexity and limited Federal legal powers.
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles, School of Public Health, CR2: Research Centre 2: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Clinical Research, CR3: Research Centre 3: Health Systems and Policies - International Health, Campus Erasme, bâtiment A, CP594, route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: christoph.schweikardt@ulb.ac.be.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schweikardt
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles, School of Public Health, CR2: Research Centre 2: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Clinical Research, CR3: Research Centre 3: Health Systems and Policies - International Health, Campus Erasme, bâtiment A, CP594, route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: yves.coppieters@ulb.ac.be.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coppieters
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D016730:Program Development
keywords: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/prevention and control; Belgium; HIV infections/prevention and control; Health policy; National HIV Plan