Fri, 19 March 2010
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Expats are in good hands in Belgium, which has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Here is our updated guide.Belgian Healthcare
You can be assured of the highest-quality medical care in Belgium, regarded as among the best healthcare systems in Europe. As in most countries, the system divides itself into state and private, though fees are payable in both, so you need to ensure that you are adequately covered through either the state insurance and/or private insurance. The advantages of the state mutuelle/mutualiteit scheme is that you can choose any doctor, clinic or hospital you like, in any location and without referral, according to your needs in much the same way as you can with private insurance.
Doctors
General practitioners can be found in private practices or attached to clinics and hospitals and you are free to consult or register with any you like. Similarly with specialist consultants. It may be a decision based on location, language or recommendation. It's always worth speaking to neighbours or colleagues when you first arrive; everyone knows of a doctor, or has heard of one with a good reputation. Also try asking on the expatica.com forums. Embassies usually keep lists of doctors who can work in your language, though it has to be said that most doctors have a good understanding of English.Really??? One of the best in the world???
http://www.expatica.com/be/articles/news/Belgian-healthcare-in-12th-place.html
Well, it encounters suicides. That has little to do with healthcare. It also states that healthcare is better in the netherlands, well you can say that to someone who couldn't be done for surgery because the doctor leaves at 5pm.
We moved to Hasselt, from Canada, 4 years ago.
There is absolutely no question the health care system here is far and away superior.
No waiting for a Dr.s appointment. Scans, X Rays as needed and promptly done. Reference to specialists as needed and/or requested! Friendly practitioners, nurses, hospital staff. Leading edge techniques/procedures.
In our case we pay for the health coverage but it would be a bargain at many times the price.
The "socialist" system, or gov't funded plans do not work!
I don't mind private healthcare clinics as long as they're "non-profit". Greedy right wing doctors only see dollar signs not their obligations to administer help regardless of income level. True, Canada has socialized healthcare..which means everyone is covered from the homeless to multi-millionaires...it's called a truely democractic healthcare system...because life is sacred.
The Americans will eventually have full universal healthcare...they already have a socialized pension system, socialized education system, and socialized fire and police departments. This has not lead America to communism as the right wing coporate media states all the time! Watch Star Trek...capitalism no longer exists! True democracy will only exist once we rid ourselves of the monetary system!
No question: Canadian healthcare system shames the Belgian one in its comprehensive care for every person. The Belgian system is unneccessarily administratively dense. (Why the stickers?) We moved to LLN from Vancouver--I'll take my Vancouver GP's any day...
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