Elections 2024: Who should I vote for if I want to see better healthcare?
In the run-up to the June elections, Belgium's political parties are staking out their positions on key issues. Today, we look at where they stand on healthcare.
Belgium's expenditure on health amounted to 55.5 billion euros in 2021, accounting for 11 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Recent government initiatives regarding healthcare include improving endometriosis care and providing affordable psychological care, which over 300,000 people in Belgium have already taken advantage of.
Mandatory health insurance funds the state healthcare system and allows residents to access subsidised services like doctors, hospitals, dental treatment, maternity care and prescription medications. Both federal and regional governments are responsible for healthcare. The Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety and the Environment oversees public healthcare. The regional Flemish, Walloon and German-speaking communities have administrative healthcare divisions.
Flemish parties
Both the NV-A and Vlaams Belang are interested in more regional autonomy regarding healthcare, ensuring that Flemish needs and preferences are prioritised. Vlaams Belang believes that reducing non-EU immigration will alleviate pressure on healthcare services.
CD&V advocates for adequate funding for hospitals and medical research, while emphasising the importance of elderly care and mental health services.
Open VLD champions individual choice and market-oriented solutions within the healthcare system. The party supports competition among healthcare providers to improve quality and efficiency and advocates for digital innovation such as telemedicine and electronic health records, to enhance patient care and reduce costs.
Groen supports sustainable healthcare practices with a focus on investments in preventive care, public health and environmental health initiatives.
Francophone parties
Like their Flemish counterpart, Groen, Ecolo prioritises sustainable and preventative healthcare measures. They advocate for increased investment in public health enterprises that focus on environmental factors affecting health.
The PS supports a publicly funded healthcare system with universal access to healthcare and aims to reduce healthcare delivery inequalities. It supports increased government spending on healthcare infrastructure, personnel and services.
The MR wants to balance public and private sector involvement. The party advocates for patient choice and competition among providers to drive quality improvements. Similarly to fellow liberals Open VLD, they see the importance of innovation and technology in healthcare in enhancing service delivery and efficiency.
In the run-up to the elections for the federal, regional and European parliaments on 9 June, Belga English explains how the parties in Belgium want to address today’s challenges. Each day we put the spotlight on one issue. |
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO XAVIER LEJEUNE/AFP
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