Belgium - Patients Given Say in Review of Medicine Reimbursement Files
- 03/04/2025
- News
As part of the Roadmap for the reform of medicine reimbursement procedures (here and here), an important piece of the healthcare section of the governmental agreement (see, Van Bael & Bellis Life Sciences News and Insights of 4 February 2025), patients have been given a welcome say in the review of medicine reimbursement files. The new rules entered into force on 1 April 2025 and reflect a two-pronged approach.
First, a patient representative of the umbrella organisations Vlaams Patiëntenplatform and Ligue des usagers des services de santé will be a non-voting member of the Committee for the Reimbursement of Medicines (Commissie Tegemoetkoming Geneesmiddelen / Commission de Remboursement des Médicaments). While this representative will have a consultative role only, his or her input is expected to complement the perspective of the sick funds which for a long time have claimed to personify the voice of the patient.
Second, patient associations will be invited to submit their expert views on applications for the reimbursement of innovative medicines. Their submission will take the form of a response to a specific questionnaire that was drafted for this purpose (and can be retrieved here and here). The questionnaire probes for (i) the impact of the relevant disease on the quality of life of patients; (ii) the experience of patients with existing treatments; and (iii) the possible experience of patients with the medicine under review. At the outset, innovative medicines will be (i) “class 1 medicines” which present a demonstrable therapeutic added value over comparable treatments; (ii) orphan medicines; and (iii) new indications of existing medicines for which there is a therapeutic or social need.
