The healthcare budget for 2025 is in a critical state, requiring swift finalization to prevent a political deadlock.

Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has voiced his concerns, stressing the necessity of establishing a budget that supports patients, caregivers, and hospitals.

During a meeting held on October 21, 2024, no agreement was reached regarding the healthcare budget.

Vandenbroucke has urged Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to promptly convene a restricted council of ministers to ensure timely approval of the budget.

This impasse is compounded by fears that the MR and Open VLD parties might exercise their veto power, claiming that the pharmaceutical sector is shouldering too much of the budgetary burden without a consensus.

The Conseil général de l'Inami was unable to reach a decision on the healthcare budget due to insufficient deliberation within the federal government, which is currently operating in a caretaker capacity.

Vandenbroucke highlighted that finalizing the budget is essential for guaranteeing the indexing of healthcare provider payments, making healthcare financially accessible, and ensuring pricing security.