From 1 August, only treatments and surgeries carried out in approved breast clinics will be eligible for reimbursement, according to Federal Health Minister Franck Vandenbroucke.
The move is to ensure the provision of consistently high-quality care, following a study by the KCE indicating a 30% increased risk of death from breast cancer for women treated in unaccredited clinics. By August 2023, unapproved hospitals can no longer access breast cancer surgical funding, and will be unable to charge for treatments in non-accredited breast clinics, Vandenbroucke said.
Two additional measures, aimed at those facing cancer, will take effect a month earlier on 1 July. Reimbursement for head coverings will be extended up to €120, an increase from the existing partial reimbursement only available for wigs. From this summer, hats and scarves will also be included, backed by an annual budget of €447,000.
Dental care reimbursement will be expanded for individuals who have either battled cancer or suffer from oligodontia – missing teeth, either wholly or partially. "We are widening the nomenclature to make access to complex dental restorations easier, such as metal frames, osseo-integrated implants, bridges or crowns," stated the Vandenbroucke office, with a budget of €3.9 million reserved for this purpose.
In response, national breast cancer advocacy body Think Pink welcomed these key decisions. "We are delighted with the positive progress in several crucial matters we have been advocating for years," it said.
