Health care reform in Belgium

Curbing the growth of public sector health expenditures has been the proclaimed government objective in Belgium since the 1980s. However, the respect for freedom of choice for patients and for therapeutic freedom for providers has blocked the introduction of microeconomic incentives and quality cont...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health economics 2005-09, Vol.14 (S1), p.S25-S39
Main Authors: Schokkaert, Erik, Van de Voorde, Carine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Belgium
Expenditures
Female
Financial Management - organization & administration
Health care
Health care industry
Health care policy
Health Care Rationing - organization & administration
health care reform
Health Care Reform - economics
Health Care Reform - organization & administration
Health costs
Health economics
Health inequalities
Health Policy
Health Services Accessibility - organization & administration
Humans
Male
Motivation
National Health Programs - economics
National Health Programs - organization & administration
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Quality Assurance, Health Care - organization & administration
Reforms
Reimbursement Mechanisms - organization & administration
Socioeconomic factors
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Summary:Curbing the growth of public sector health expenditures has been the proclaimed government objective in Belgium since the 1980s. However, the respect for freedom of choice for patients and for therapeutic freedom for providers has blocked the introduction of microeconomic incentives and quality control. Therefore – with some exceptions, particularly in the hospital sector – policy has consisted mainly of tariff and supply restrictions and increases in co‐payments. These measures have not been successful in curbing the growth of expenditures. Moreover, there remains a large variation in medical practices. While the structure of health financing is relatively progressive from an international perspective, socioeconomic and regional inequalities in health persist. The most important challenge is the restructuring of the basic decision‐making processes; i.e. a simplification of the bureaucratic procedures and a re‐examination of the role of regional authorities and sickness funds. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:1057-9230
1099-1050
DOI:10.1002/hec.1027