Several of Belgium's major hospitals schedule consultations for skin problems more quickly if patients are willing to pay extra, an investigation by De Standaard showed.
Anyone wanting to see a dermatologist in Belgium in recent years has likely faced a long waiting period before being able to book an appointment. However, at two Dutch-speaking university hospitals, people can pay a hefty surcharge to see a doctor immediately. At the Brussels University Hospital (UZ Brussel), patients pay around €50 extra, while at Leuven University Hospital (UZ Leuven), the cost is up to 150% higher than the appointment cost.
De Standaard called the hospitals' dermatology departments without revealing themselves as journalists to make an appointment for a skin problem. At UZ Brussel, the department first said it was not accepting new patients. When the caller insisted, they were told only evening consultations at the outpatient clinic in Dilbeek were available, for which a supplement of €50 was charged.
The average patient pays around €42 for a consultation with a conventional dermatologist, which amounts to €12 after reimbursement. With a supplement of €50, patients making such an appointment at UZ Brussel pay around €62 in total, five times as much as a normal appointment.
To get an appointment earlier than the end of August at UZ Leuven's dermatology department, a supplement of 100-150% – or a maximum of about €64 – was requested. Even then, the appointment would be in May.
"It is shocking that those who pay more get help faster," said Laura Jame, policy officer at the Flemish Patients' Platform. "It is unfair and goes against the principle of solidarity of which we are so proud in Belgium. Not everyone can pay more. Such systems increase inequality."
Botox and fillers
De Standaard also requested a cosmetic treatment, such as fillers or Botox. For this, UZ Brussel patients can pay €20 extra to see a dermatologist three months sooner than for a consultation for a skin condition.
For Botox treatment at UZ Gent, the waiting time is just as long as for skin conditions, namely two months. This may reduce for people with suspicious moles, however. The hospital does not consider cosmetic treatments to be a priority.
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UZ Leuven admits that slots often become available more quickly for consultations with surcharges. It explained that patients are more likely to cancel appointments for these types of consultations, freeing up space. "But under no circumstances does UZ Leuven want to encourage patients to choose a more expensive consultation," said head doctor at UZ Leuven, Gert Van Assche.
UZ Brussel, in contrast, denies that it prioritises cosmetic treatments. It added that such treatments make up less than 5% of its consultations, meaning they do not have a significant impact on the waiting time for other patients.
