Équité en soins de santé

Abstract

No society can ignore inequality in gaining access health care services. The setting up of a generalized safety net against adverse effects of sickness on household, as achieved with the «Maximum yearly health bill» («Maximum à facturer»), appears to be a key priority. The Belgian health care system is characterized by its openness and the degree of freedom. Therefore the responsibility of both individuals and providers is crucial. Only the certainty that money spent by the collectivity is adequately allocated can guarantee the public support for the public sector financing. The challenge is to match the most cost efficient treatments with the increasing requirements from the citizen about quality. The quality control, without jeopardizing the providers' autonomy, has to go along with a brake on the growing consumerism.