Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Kids (0-18) on reimbursed meds via CM fell from 62% to 57% (2013-2023). ADHD meds up 31.5%; cheaper care for under 24 starts Feb 2025.
Between 2013 and 2023, fewer kids aged 0 to 18 received reimbursed medicine through CM (Christian Mutuality). In 2013, 62% of these children had at least one reimbursed medicine, but by 2023, that number fell to 57%. Authorities mentioned that this five-percentage-point drop shows a change in how children’s healthcare is handled. Possible reasons include better health practices, improved overall health, and doctors focusing more on treatments that don’t involve medicine. Changes in health insurance rules about which medicines are covered may also have played a part in this decline.
What factors contribute to the decline in kids’ reimbursed medicines?
From 2013 to 2023, the use of ADHD medications increased by 31.5 per cent, and antidepressants went up by 43 per cent. There was also a rise in antacid use among teens, from 2.8 per cent to 3.9 per cent. On the other hand, the use of oral contraception dropped by 16 per cent, while hormonal IUDs became more popular, with requests rising from 52 in 2013 to 483 in 2023. Starting February 1, 2025, people under 24 will be able to access cheaper primary psychological care, but there are concerns about not having enough funds to help everyone, leading to calls for more support to ensure all young people can get the care they need.
Along with the drop in reimbursed medicines for kids, spending on their medication by health insurance also decreased by 8% during the same time. It has been said that this reduction may be due to efforts to control costs, like promoting generic drugs and getting better prices. While this could mean improvements in child health and healthcare efficiency, it also raises concerns about whether kids can still get the medicines they need. More research is needed to see if these changes are good for health or if they create problems with access to important medicines.
