Emergency medical services in Belgium

In case of life-threatening situations, call 112 for an ambulance.

Action steps

  • In case of life-threatening situations, call 112 for an ambulance or go immediately to the emergency room (ER) (dienst spoedgevallen or spoed in Dutch) of the nearest hospital.
  • Leuven has two hospitals with ER units. The ambulance will take you to the nearest hospital or you can go there by yourself.
  • The ER services of each hospital are open 24/7 and are accessible to everyone in need of urgent medical care.
  • You can download the 112.be app, the official app for the Belgian emergency services. In the app you can click on the icons to contact the appropriate emergency service needed.
  • For non-life-threatening situations:
    •  during office hours, call you general practitioner (GP) or huisarts.
    •  outside of office hours or on weekends or public holidays, call 1733 or check www.8post.be to determine where you can find the most appropriate help for your issue - both are available in English.
  • Don’t forget to take your insurance documents, your ID and possibly a debit card. In the event of a work-related accident, bring the documents provided by your employer and intended for the insurance company.

Attention points

  • Be aware that the waiting time at the ER could last up to several hours, depending on the severity of your problem and that of the other patients.
  • In both ERs in Leuven you will be able to explain your situation in English; for other languages the hospital will help you find a solution.
  • You do not need to pay immediately for your visit at the ER. An invoice will be sent to you afterwards, by mail or e-mail.
  • In the event of a work-related accident, the invoice will be sent to the insurance company of your employer (be sure to know the name of your employer's insurance company).
  • If you do not have a health insurance or hospital insurance, the invoice will be sent to you for the full amount.
  • After your treatment in the ER, you will either go home with instructions for your GP or you will be admitted to the hospital for further care and treatment.
  • If you need specific medication after dismissal from the ER, you will get a prescription for the pharmacy. If necessary, you can find an on-call pharmacy via the website of w8post or by calling 0903 99 000 (paying phone number, 1,5€ p/m). In exceptional situations you will receive your medication at the hospital.

Suppliers, channels and tools

Last updated on 11/08/2022


Audience

Internationals living/working in the Leuven region in need of urgent medical care.

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