Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper): In Brussels, three out of four hospitals are losing money, totaling €86 million in losses for 2023. High unpaid medical bills, affecting 27% of all hospital debts in Belgium, exacerbate the issue. Approximately 37.6% of Brussels residents face poverty. GIBBIS urges policymakers to address these challenges to ensure sustainable healthcare services in the region.
The financial situation for hospitals in Brussels has worsened, with new data showing that three out of four hospitals are losing money. In 2023, these hospitals lost a total of 86 million euros. A major issue is the high number of unpaid medical bills, as Brussels accounts for 27% of all unpaid hospital bills in Belgium, despite having a smaller population. It has been said that this situation highlights the struggles of the healthcare system in the Brussels-Capital Region. And if the issues with unpaid bills aren’t addressed, hospitals could face even bigger financial problems in the future.
How can GIBBIS and policymakers address the financial crisis facing Brussels Hospitals?
According to the federation, about 37.6 percent of people in Brussels are at risk of poverty, which is more than double the national average. This situation is affecting hospitals in the area because they treat many vulnerable patients who need more complicated and expensive care, leading to more unpaid bills. GIBBIS is asking policymakers to understand the special needs of big cities like Brussels and to give extra help to hospitals that care for these patients. A study by Belfius shows that hospitals are getting weaker financially, with 34 out of 89 general hospitals in Belgium ending 2023 with losses, which means about 4 out of 10 hospitals are struggling.
According to Belfius economists hospitals in Belgium are getting poorer every year. For the last ten years, they have been struggling and can’t save enough money to fix or improve their services. He mentioned that in Brussels, it’s even worse because many people are living in poverty and public hospitals have to pay a lot for pensions. This makes it hard for hospitals to keep their places nice and to make changes. Karel Van De Sompel from GIBBIS warns that if they don’t get more money and help, it will be difficult to provide good healthcare for everyone.
