One in five Belgian workers is unable to access to healthcare at least once a year, l'Echo reported on Tuesday.
A study conducted by the VUB research group Brispo reveals that around 21% of Belgian workers cannot obtain a medical consultation or necessary treatment at least once annually, placing Belgium above the European average for this issue.
Healthcare service shortages constitute the main obstacle to seeing a doctor. Over two thirds of affected workers face difficulties accessing a doctor or treatment due to long waiting times, the inability to secure an appointment or geographical distance.
Difficult to take time off
Another major barrier is the difficulty workers face in taking time off work for medical appointments. Almost one in five Belgian workers cites the inability to leave work as a reason for missing medical care.
This places Belgium in the top five countries where work is an obstacle to healthcare access, notes Maarten Hermans, author of the study.
"Addressing the shortage of doctors and caregivers is not simple, that is clear," he said. "However, establishing a legal framework to ensure workers do not have to take leave, possibly unpaid, to see a doctor requires minimal political effort."
"We focus a lot on reintegrating the sick, but we often forget about prevention," Hermans added.
