In this article, together with external partner Doktr, we outline the issue of low-GP zones in different parts of the country.
What exactly is a low-GP zone?
Low-GP zones are a worrying phenomenon that restricts patients’ access to essential primary health care. As well as making acute health problems harder to treat, this lack of available GPs also threatens to turn minor ailments into long-term health problems.
Access to health care is measured by the number of active GPs per unit of population. To ensure sufficient access to primary health care, the target is at least 9 per 10,000 in urban areas and 12.5 per 10,000 in rural areas. The current GP data show the figures for Flanders from 2019-2020, for Brussels from 2017-2018 and for Wallonia from 2023.
Low-GP zones in Belgium
For this analysis, the country is divided into three zones: the Flemish Region (1&2) , the Brussels-Capital Region (3) and the Walloon Region (5).
The number of low-GP zones in Flanders rose from 195 in the period 2018-2019 to 227 (excluding large cities such as Antwerp and Ghent) in the most recent assessment for June 2019 through to the end of 2020. In Flanders, the Pajottenland and the Zenne Valley, together with Ninove and Geraardsbergen, are the regions with the biggest problems in terms of GP accessibility. The northern edge of Brussels, with areas such as Londerzeel, Grimbergen and Zemst, is also experiencing a GP shortage.
Other zones are also affected by a shortage, such as the coastal regions (Bredene, De Panne and all areas in between), as well as other zones in East Flanders (Beveren to Stekene), West Flanders (Dentergem, Tielt, Wingene, etc.) and Antwerp (Turnhout and Schelle).
A 2017 study by the Brussels-Capital Observatory for Health and Welfare found a shortage of GPs in 28 of the region’s 118 districts. The municipalities of Sint-Joost-Ten-Node, Koekelberg, Evere and Anderlecht had particularly low numbers. These low-GP zones were mainly found in sparsely populated areas, in districts with a high concentration of office buildings and on the edge of the region. Many reports suggest that – given that this study dates from 2017 – these figures underestimate the current situation. For example, a recent article (2023) showed that seven municipalities in the Brussels region face a significant shortage of GPs. Yet 60% of available doctors no longer accept new patients, leaving approximately one-third of Brussels residents without a GP. (4)
The uneven distribution of doctors in the Brussels Region is due to safety issues in some areas and high establishment costs in affluent neighbourhoods. The great inequality between different districts underlines the need for targeted interventions to ensure equal access to health care.
In Wallonia, the shortage of GPs is increasing, with the situation in the province of Luxembourg being particularly dire. This is clear from the most recent update of the list of municipalities experiencing a GP shortage, carried out by Aviq for the period 2023-2024. In particular, the southern region of the Sambre and Meuse Valley, the ‘Boot of Hainaut’ and the province of Luxembourg all face serious shortages. The province of Luxembourg – with the exception of the municipality of Étalle, where there has been improvement – is experiencing a drift towards a situation of serious shortages almost everywhere. In contrast, northern Wallonia, especially in the centre of the province of Liège, appears to be seeing some improvement.
How can Doktr help both your employees and your organisation?
These low-GP zones are a serious impediment for employees who live and work there. A lack of prompt access to primary care means that minor health problems can escalate into more serious conditions. For companies, this can result in higher absenteeism, lower productivity and higher costs in the long term. For example, companies without employees on long-term sick leave have been found to be 40% more profitable than those with many employees in this situation. (6) For employees living and working in Wallonia, the consequences of these low-GP zones are particularly acute.
Extending your health policy
The inclusion of services such as Doktr in employee benefits packages offers you an opportunity as an employer to take a proactive measure to keep employees healthy, productive and supported. By making remote consultations with licensed GPs possible, Doktr bridges the gap in access to primary health care. As a result, employees receive prompt medical advice and treatment, even if they are physically located in a low-GP zone.
Sources:
(1) Aantal huisartsarme gemeentes blijft toenemen. (z.d.). Zorg en gezondheid.
(2) Is er een huisartsentekort in uw regio? - De Standaard. (2022, 7 juli). De Standaard.
(3) Home page - Wijkmonitoring. (z.d.).
(4) Tessier, L. (2023, 7 maart). “C’est un drame” : À Bruxelles aussi, la pénurie de médecins généralistes fait rage. Moustique.
(5) Hardy, F. (2023, 11 juli). [Carte interactive] La pénurie de généralistes s’aggrave en Wallonie, le Luxembourg particulièrement touché. Site-LeJournalDuMedecin-FR.
(6) Bedrijven zonder burn-outs maken 40 procent meer winst. (2024, 14 maart). De Tijd.
