Make doctor visits free in Belgium, urge GPs

Belgium is one of the few European countries where patients pay for a regular visit to the doctor, writes De Morgen. "To change this is not only necessary but also feasible, cost effective and good for the quality of our health-care system," say general physicians (GPs).

About 900,000 Belgians a year postpone a visit to their GP because they cannot afford it, according to a recent study commissioned by the European Commission. Of 31 European countries, Belgium comes in20th for financial access to primary care. As the fifth wealthiest country in Europe, Belgium can do better, the study concludes.

From 1 July this year, the third-party payer will come into effect across the country. The system requires patients to pay only the co-payment for a visit to the doctor, while the doctor arranges the reimbursement directly and electronically with the health insurance fund.

According to some GPs, the change is an opportunity to scrap the co-payment altogether and make visits to the doctor free.