The treatment of tobacco addiction in Belgium remains insufficiently integrated into the healthcare system, according to a study published on Thursday by the Cancer Foundation and the Federal Public Service for Health.
The survey, which gathered responses from more than 18,000 healthcare professionals, reveals a persistent lack of resources and coordination among those involved in supporting patients who smoke.
Most Belgian smokers start before the age of 21, and tobacco-related illnesses cause more than 9,000 deaths in the country each year.
The authors argue that quitting smoking requires structured, systematic support and that a brief suggestion from a doctor to stop is not enough. They say tobacco addiction should be treated comprehensively by all healthcare professionals and included as a standard element of every care pathway.
Yet only 21% of surveyed healthcare workers actively encourage patients to quit. Some specialists are more proactive, including pneumologists (80%), cardiologists (70%) and tobacco-dependency experts (58%).
Even among these more committed groups, interventions remain limited. Only 13% offer practical advice, 12% refer patients to cessation tools or specialists, 4% suggest pharmacological aids such as nicotine replacement therapies, and another 4% propose detailed action plans.
The study stresses the importance of systematically collecting information on tobacco use, providing targeted support, and ensuring appropriate follow-up, whether directly or through referrals to specialists.
Its recommendations include adding questions about smoking to routine medical assessments, making tobacco addiction treatment a default part of care pathways and improving cooperation between healthcare professionals and tobacco experts.
