Health, vaccinations and medical care in Belgium

Cover

• EU and EEA visitors: carry your EHIC. UK visitors: the GHIC does the same job. Neither is travel insurance.
• Belgium reimburses rather than exempts. Unlike the UK or Spain, you will often pay the doctor or pharmacy in full and claim the money back, either at the time or after you get home. Bring a card with room on it and keep every receipt.
• Travel insurance still matters for repatriation, private clinics and anything the state system does not cover.

Quality and access

• Belgian healthcare is among the best in Europe and waiting times are short by European standards.
• You can walk into most GP practices without being registered, which is unusual and useful.
• Hospital emergency departments (urgences/spoed) handle serious cases. For minor problems a GP or pharmacist is quicker and much cheaper.
• Pharmacies (apotheek/pharmacie) are everywhere and pharmacists advise on minor complaints. There is a duty rota for nights and weekends, posted on the door.

Everyday

• Tap water is safe everywhere in Belgium.
• No vaccinations are required for entry.
• Bring enough prescription medicine for the trip plus a margin, in original packaging with a copy of the prescription.