Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) aims to launch a comprehensive reform effort across the healthcare sector, involving all stakeholders from health insurers and patients to medical organisations and pharmacies.
The minister stressed that everyone must contribute to maintain affordable healthcare. He cautioned against unnecessary hospital emergency visits and over-reliance on out-of-hours GP services. Vandenbroucke cited examples of wasteful practices, including excessive use of medications like acid reducers and statins, and unnecessary CT scans.
In the coming days, Vandenbroucke plans to ask all parties involved in healthcare to reflect on how to ensure investment in the sector is well-directed and efficient, according to the socialist Deputy Prime Minister.
He indicated that no topics are off-limits, including patient co-payments—the portion of costs paid out-of-pocket for doctor visits or medications. Vandenbroucke believes increasing certain co-payments could discourage medication wastage. He also suggested that if new, beneficial drugs are to be reimbursed, perhaps older medications should not always be offered at ultra-low prices, as long as these measures serve a clear purpose.
