Belgium boasts an accessible, high-quality health-care system, but grapples with significant issues regarding the consumption of medicinal drugs, according to a new report published on Thursday by the Federal Centre for Healthcare Expertise, KCE.
The KCE notes that almost the entire population is covered by mandatory health insurance. However, it points out, “access to care is often less evident for socio-economically disadvantaged groups.”
This is particularly true for preventive care, where results often fall short of targets set by the World Health Organisation.
The report encourages continued efforts towards “a more equitable and proactive system that emphasises maintaining good health” for all.
The use of antibiotics, antidepressants and anticholinergics (a group of medicines that relax muscles) is identified as far from ideal. The latter two categories appear to be too readily prescribed, particularly for elderly people living in institutions, the KCE says.
The use of antibiotics is higher than the European average, while the choice of first-line antibiotics does not always adhere to guidelines, according to the report’s authors.
The experts note the effectiveness of health care but see room for improvement. They note, on one hand, encouraging outcomes with “high and increasing use of effective, yet less expensive and less constraining solutions for patients and the system.”
On the other hand, improvements can be made regarding the appropriateness and continuity of care for people living with diabetes, especially those treated with antidiabetic medicines other than insulin.
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