A new law has significantly reduced patients’ bills for CT and MRI scans by limiting additional fees.
Hospitals and radiologists are now less likely to charge supplemental fees for these scans, leading to much lower costs for patients, said Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) on Saturday, in response to a Solidaris study.
The study revealed that patients are paying significantly less in additional fees due to the ban introduced last year.
Vandenbroucke emphasised that healthcare should be affordable for everyone. "That’s why we decided last year that hospitals could only offer MRI or CT scans during office hours or in urgent medical cases at official rates," he stated.
Outgoing Vice-Prime Minister and Public Health and Social Affairs minister Frank Vandenbroucke pictured during a plenary session of the Chamber at the Federal Parliament in Brussels, Thursday 07 November 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
"The Solidaris analysis shows that this ban on supplemental fees has had a significant positive impact on patients’ bills. By reducing financial barriers like these fees, we ensure more affordable healthcare," Vandenbroucke added.
However, the minister noted that it is "regrettable but not entirely surprising” that some hospitals and radiologists are compensating for the lost income in other ways.
"Despite the overall positive result, this should not be allowed," he stressed.
"We must look at expanding and strengthening measures against supplemental fees in the future," Vandenbroucke concluded, urging hospitals to review the analyses and consider their implications.
