The Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist) says that the Board of the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV) has approved the 2026 health budget. The government had put forward proposals for the health budget to RISIV as the various partners that sit on its board had been unable to reach an agreement on measures themself.
Mr Vandenbroucke told journalists that “People that are ill must be helped without having to fear unaffordable bills”.
As people are now living longer and healthcare is becoming more complex and expensive, the Federal Health Minister believes that it is important to use the available resources sparingly and efficiently. Nevertheless, an additional 1.5 billion euro will be spent on healthcare insurance next year. This corresponds to the stated growth target of 2% above inflation. In order to ensure that the cost of healthcare doesn’t spiral out of control a number of measures are being taken to keep expenditure in check.
Medicines
The government’s aim is to prevent the unnecessary consumption and waste of medicines. Pharmaceutical companies will also be obliged to offer a discount on their medicines.
• Antibiotics must be prescribed for the duration of a treatment rather than per pack.
• The minimum patient contribution for prescription medicines will be 2 euro per pack. This will be 1 euro for those on low incomes.
• Additional medicines, including antiallergics, will be added to the list of drugs for which some of the cost is refunded.
• The amount refunded for antacids (medicines to relieve stomach acid) and cholesterol-lowering medicines will be increased for patients with milder conditions.
Medical services provided by doctors
The most important changes mainly concern medical imaging (scans, X-rays).
• CT scans must have been prescribed by more than one doctor in order to avoid excessive use of the scans.
• Surgical assistance during an operation may only be billed if it was effective.
• Doctors will be obliged to prescribe drugs and/or treatments in a more cost-effective and rational manner.
Other changes
The government wants to save costs primarily through efficiency gains. Additional investments will be made here and there. The most important measures include:
• The costs of telephone consultations or video consultations at medical centres will be (partially) reimbursed again.
• Health insurance mutuals will partially reimburse psychiatric treatments and medication such as antiallergics.
The patient contribution for a visit to a GP will not be raised.