According to several studies conducted at the Federal Centre for Healthcare Expertise (KCE), the King Baudouin Foundation and the Inami (the Belgian’s national social security institution), 40% of Belgians are seriously considering maintaining the balance of social security ‘by no longer providing costly treatments that prolong the lives of patients over 85’. The survey outcome is revealed in an article published in the Belgian newspaper, Le Soir, whose author fears a potential drift towards a two-speed medicine between older patients who can afford to pay for unreimbursed treatments and those who can’t. In the Netherlands, pacemakers are no longer placed on patients over 75.
Our Belgian member OKRA has reacted to this announcement, warning against the use of arbitrary age limits in health care. Read our blog article
