Belgium - Health

Belgium's health care system is one of the best in Europe. Both universal and private coverage is available.

Citizens from EEA and Switzerland can access medical care by presenting a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) when staying temporarily in Belgium. UK citizens can get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.

In Belgium, the procedure is for patients to pay medical costs themselves first and then apply for reimbursement from a Belgian health insurance fund.

In Brussels and the Dutch-speaking regions of Flanders, the majority of doctors and hospital staff speak English.

Travel insurance is recommended prior to visiting the country.

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:

Aside from routine vaccines, Hepatitis A is recommended when visiting rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water. Other vaccinations recommended are Hepatitis B and Measles.

Insect-borne Diseases:

Belgium reported 3 cases of Tick-borne Encephalitis in 2020.
For more details and how to protect yourself against TBE, see the CDC government website.

Other Diseases:

As of July 2022, there are 168 confirmed cases of Monkeypox in Belgium.

Prescription Drugs:

Visitors who needs to bring narcotic or psychotropic substances into Belgium as part of a medical treatment, must be able to justify this by means of a valid medical prescription or a certificate validated by public authorities, such as the Schengen declaration.

The maximum amount of medicines brought into Belgium may not exceed a treatment duration of 3 months.

Emergency Numbers:
See Emergencies.