The number of recorded incidents of theft and extortion in Belgian hospitals has increased in recent years, according to figures obtained by N-VA Member of Parliament Kristien Van Vaerenbergh from Minister of the Interior Bernard Quintin (MR).
In 2021, the federal police recorded 967 incidents of theft and extortion in Belgian hospitals. The Brussels-Capital Region had the highest number, with 245 cases, followed by the provinces of Hainaut (134), Liège (129), and Antwerp (126).
By 2023, the number of recorded incidents rose to 1,226. The increase was particularly notable in Brussels, which reported 360 cases. Liège ranked second with 169 cases, and Antwerp saw a rise, placing it third with 145 cases.
Though 2024 figures are incomplete, police recorded 807 incidents of theft or extortion by the end of the third quarter, including 187 in Brussels and 101 in Antwerp.
Van Vaerenbergh expressed concern over these statistics. “Hospitals are places where vulnerable people are cared for. Care and safety must always be prioritised,” she said. “The increase in violence, extortion, and theft poses a threat not only to the safety of patients and staff but also undermines trust in our healthcare institutions.”
Van Vaerenbergh attributes the alarming figures in Brussels to “laxity and a prevailing climate of impunity.” She calls for an action plan and closer cooperation between local and federal governments, police, and the healthcare sector.
