From the beginning of next year patients in Belgium will gain access to promising new medicines more quickly than is currently the case. From 1 January 2026, new treatments that have shown strong results in clinical trials will be reimbursed by health mutuals prior to them having received formal approval from the European Medicines Agency.
Speaking in an interview with the financial daily ‘De Tijd’, the Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist) said that the aim of the measure is to help patients with serious conditions that currently have to wait months or even years before a new treatment is granted recognition and can be reimbursed. Mr Vandenbroucke told ‘De Tijd’ that “Anyone that is ill should get the best care as quickly as possible”.
Under the new rules, medicines and treatments will be reimbursed temporarily while talks on pricing continue. The Federal Government has set aside 25 million euro to cover the additional costs expected to be incurred during the first phase of the new measure.
The announcement comes just days after Mr Vandenbroucke defended 80 million euro in expenditure cuts on pharmaceuticals. The Health Minister argues that this is necessary in order to keep spiraling healthcare costs under control. He added that the industry should with “credible and creative” proposals.