Healthcare

Health Insurance

Belgium has mandatory health insurance for residents through a 'mutualité'/'ziekenfonds'. Visitors should carry travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000.

1. 1Register with a recognised mutualité/ziekenfonds within your first months of residence
2. 2Get a Belgian national registry number first (via municipality registration)
3. 3Keep Schengen-compliant travel insurance for short visits

• Employers often help arrange mutualité enrolment
• EU nationals can use an EHIC; non-EU visitors need private travel insurance

Finding a GP (huisarts/médecin généraliste)

Registering with a local GP gives you a consistent point of contact and referrals to specialists.

1. 1Ask your commune, employer or university for a recommended local GP list
2. 2Book an initial appointment to register as a patient
3. 3Keep your national registry / insurance details on hand

• Many GPs in Brussels speak English
• Non-urgent same-day appointments can be hard to get — book ahead

Hospitals

Belgium has a high standard of hospital care. Major university hospitals with international patient services include Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, H.U.B (Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles), CHIREC and Erasmus Hospital in Brussels, and Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) in Antwerp.

• Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc treats patients in French and English, among other languages
• H.U.B International Patient Services supports patients from 70+ countries with multilingual staff
• UZA (Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, near Antwerp — tel. +32 3 821 30 00) offers interpreter services on request

UZ Leuven

Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Antwerp University Hospital

Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium.

Ghent University Hospital

Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent, Belgium.

UZ Brussel

Avenue du Laerbeek 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium.

Hôpital Erasme

Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.

Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc (UCLouvain)

Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.

CHU Saint-Pierre

Rue aux Laines 105, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.

CHU Brugmann

Place A. Van Gehuchten 4, 1020 Brussels, Belgium.

Clinique Saint-Jean

Boulevard du Jardin Botanique 32, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.

CHIREC – Hôpital Braine-l'Alleud–Waterloo

Rue Wayez 35, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium.

AZ Monica Antwerpen

Harmoniestraat 68, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium.

Jessa Hospital

Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies (apotheek/pharmacie) are widely available and marked with a green cross.

• A rotating on-duty pharmacy operates outside normal hours — look for the notice posted on any pharmacy door or check pharmacie.be

English-Speaking Clinics

Several clinics in Brussels cater specifically to the international and expat community.

• Berlaymont Health Centre (Brussels, tel. 02 735 53 26) offers English-language consultations, paediatrics, gynaecology, mental health and more under one roof
• H.U.B International Patient Services provides dedicated support (translators, travel/visa assistance) for international patients