Belgian hospital extra fees rise nearly 10 per cent despite freeze
Patients in Belgian hospitals paid almost 1.6 billion euros out of pocket in 2024, according to new figures. The sharpest rise came from doctors’ extra fees, which increased by 9.1 per cent despite a government freeze.
The data, from the Intermutualist Agency’s Hospital Barometer, show that patients spent 1.59 billion euros on hospital stays and day treatments last year, up 5.8 per cent% on 2023. Nearly half of this (760 million) came from doctors’ extra charges.
These extra fees can only be billed if a patient chooses a private room. They rose much faster than health insurance payments (up 5.6 per cent) and standard patient co-payments (up 1.5 per cent).
The increase is striking because fees were officially frozen between 2022 and the end of 2024, although some exceptions were allowed. Eleven hospitals also raised their maximum rates. On average, doctors charged 112.6 per cent on top of the basic tariff in 2024, up from 107.4 per cent in 2022. In some hospitals, fees reach 300 per cent extra.
Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the figures proved urgent regulation is needed. A small group of 10 per cent of doctors account for 43 per cent of all extra fees, which he called unfair and confusing for patients.
The government plans to cap these charges. The medical sector has until mid-2027 to agree its own limits, or a legal ceiling will be imposed. The new rules would start in 2028.
The gap between patients is large. A stay in a private room costs 2,778 euros on average, eight times more than a shared room. Nearly 100,000 stays last year cost patients over 3,000 euros, and 7,500 cost more than 10,000 euros.
© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
Related news
