Brussels, 8 October, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A Brussels hospital merger is set to create Belgium’s second-largest hospital group, bringing major medical institutions together under a shared organisation. Brussels Mayor Philippe Close announced the initiative on Thursday, saying it would strengthen public healthcare, improve medical cooperation and increase investment capacity across the Belgian capital.
The new Brussels University Hospitals group is expected to begin operating on 1 January 2027, subject to final institutional approvals. The organisation will cover 12 hospital sites, more than 2,500 beds and approximately 11,500 employees.
Major Brussels Healthcare Group to Unite Leading Hospitals
The new organisation will bring together Saint-Pierre University Hospital, Iris South Hospitals and the existing Brussels University Hospital network.
The latter already includes Erasmus Hospital, the Jules Bordet Institute and Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital.
Together, the institutions will form a healthcare group with an estimated annual turnover of €1.5 billion.
According to Brussels news outlet BRUZZ, the group will become Belgium’s second-largest hospital organisation, behind Antwerp’s Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom.
The arrangement will not constitute a conventional legal merger. Participating institutions will retain their existing structures while coordinating medical activities, investment and management.
Brussels Mayor Announces Stronger Public Healthcare Cooperation
Mayor Philippe Close said the partnership would allow hospitals to share specialised equipment, medical expertise and clinical resources.
He emphasised that residents would continue to receive treatment at nearby hospitals while gaining access to specialist services elsewhere in the network.
Close also highlighted the importance of research and innovation in improving long-term healthcare provision.
According to Belgian news agency Belga, the mayor said the institutions would remain public and benefit from greater financial resources.
Officials indicated that medical fees and room supplements would remain unchanged, meaning the restructuring is not intended to increase these charges for patients.
Financial Challenges Behind Brussels Hospital Restructuring
The decision follows mounting financial pressures across Belgium’s hospital sector.
According to figures cited by the Brussels mayor’s office, more than 60% of hospitals recorded financial deficits in 2023.
Healthcare institutions have also faced rising operational demands, staffing pressures and growing requirements for specialised treatment.
The participating hospitals took an important step towards closer cooperation in April 2026, when their medical councils expressed support for establishing a larger hospital group.
At that stage, the institutions identified coordinated care, financial sustainability and accessibility as central objectives.
What the Hospital Partnership Means for Brussels Residents
The restructuring is intended to improve continuity of care while maintaining local hospital access.
Patients could benefit from greater coordination between specialist departments, shared medical equipment and improved cooperation between healthcare professionals.
The partnership also comes ahead of planned Belgian hospital reforms, including minimum activity requirements for certain services from 2028.
However, the precise allocation of services across the participating hospital sites remains under discussion.
BRUZZ reported that no hospital sites are expected to close under the current plans, although some departments or beds could be redistributed.
What Happens Next for Brussels University Hospitals?
The new organisation is scheduled to become operational in January 2027 after approval from the relevant municipal councils and the board of the Université libre de Bruxelles.
A common management council will oversee cooperation, while a joint medical council is expected to be established within three years.
Brugmann University Hospital will remain outside the initial partnership, although discussions about potential future participation are continuing.
The coming months will determine how the institutions coordinate their resources and implement the new governance structure, marking a significant development in Brussels’ public healthcare system.
