The number of Dutch, Germans, French, Luxembourgians and British seeking treatment in Belgian hospitals has risen by 18 per cent in four years, notes De Morgen.
According to a study by the Observatory for Patient Mobility, most medical tourists are Dutch people who are attempting to avoid long waiting lists for certain types of treatment in their country. The newspaper adds that more and more Dutch medical insurance companies are drawing up contracts with Belgian hospitals, and quotes a Belgian doctor who explains —
Most of the procedures are either orthopedic or cardiac. In the Netherlands, you can wait six months to get a new hip, while in Belgium you can obtain an operation virtually immediately.
Receive the best of European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!
It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.
Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!