BELGIUM Trends and Developments Contributed by: Thibaut D’hulst, Ilham Irgiou and Ossama M’Rini, Van Bael & Bellis
The Latest in Digital Healthcare in Belgium The digital healthcare landscape in Belgium has experienced profound changes in recent years, propelled by technological advancements, evolving patient needs, and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The heightened need for remote care, telemedicine, and data- driven decision-making has underscored the importance of a robust and adaptable digital healthcare infrastructure. Amid these evolving dynamics, a new fed- eral government, formed in January 2025, has set a clear policy direction through its federal coalition agreement for 2025–2029 (“Coalition Agreement”). While the Coalition Agreement places digital transformation, especially within healthcare, at the heart of its vision for public service modernisation, it largely maintains the course set by previous administrations, with no major shift in healthcare policies. The Coali- tion Agreement recognises the potential added value of technology for patients and healthcare providers, provided it complements rather than replaces in-person care. Digital tools are viewed as a means to strengthen existing care relation- ships and support more personalised services. The federal government also recognises the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI). Belgium aims to complement EU legislation with nation- al rules that safeguard medical confidentiality, therapeutic freedom, and patient safety, while leaving space for experimentation and innova- tion. A national AI and data strategy for public health is being developed, with cybersecurity as a core priority. Similarly, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV/INAMI – NIHDI) has introduced its new interfederal eHealth Action Plan (2025–2027) (eHealth Plan) for integrated healthcare by establishing eHealth architecture
in which the hundreds of existing ICT compo- nents and platforms are shared transparently with a wide range of stakeholders. This review explores the key trends shaping Bel- gium’s digital healthcare ecosystem and high- lights the main challenges faced by healthcare organisations and policymakers. Integrating Care and Advancing Data Sharing Systems in Belgium The growing emphasis on healthcare data shar- ing and interoperability has emerged as a key trend in Belgium’s digital healthcare landscape. Historically, Belgium’s healthcare system was very fragmented, marked by minimal co-ordi- nation across different providers and care set- tings. Patients frequently encountered gaps in care when moving between healthcare provid- ers or settings, such as transitioning from hos- pital to home care. This lack of co-ordination and data sharing led to inefficiencies, and less- than-ideal patient outcomes. Interoperability efforts now aim to enhance continuity of care and improve communication across healthcare environments, facilitated by the rapid expansion of digital health technologies such as electronic health records (EHRs) and telehealth platforms (eg, myconsultation.be, Doctena, and Doktr). EHRs allow healthcare professionals to access and share patient information securely, ensur- ing continuity of care, while telehealth platforms enable remote consultations and monitoring, facilitating care co-ordination. National strategy and the Belgian integrated health record The eHealth Plan’s central pillar is strengthening the core services of the federal eHealth platform and accelerating the rollout and operationalisa- tion of the Belgian Integrated Health Record (BIHR). The BIHR is conceived as a comprehen-
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