Until 2023, outpatient psychiatry in Belgium had no structural representation at the policy level. However, the lack of explicit support for this form of care carries a very high social cost: according to the OECD, it is estimated that more than 4% of Belgium’s GDP is lost to the economic impact of mental health conditions through productivity loss and healthcare costs. Insufficiently accessible outpatient care leads to unnecessary, often expensive hospitalizations and increases pressure on crisis systems, whereas early and low-threshold intervention has been proven to be both effective and cost-efficient.
The Belgian Federation for Outpatient Psychiatry (BFAP) represents psychiatrists active in solo and group practices, CGGs, and other outpatient care forms, and formulates its policy priorities in full alignment with the objectives of the Federal Government Agreement 2025-2029.
The 5 key priorities of BFAP
- Community-based care
Invest specifically in accessible outpatient psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care that is both timely and available long-term as a full alternative to hospital-based care and hospitalizations, in accordance with WHO and EU guidelines that recognize this approach as essential for recovery-oriented care, prevention of chronicity, and better health and social outcomes. - Sustainable remuneration
Ensure fair compensation that reflects the workload, clinical complexity, and medical-specialist responsibilities of the outpatient psychiatrist, prevents further outflow of psychiatrists, and aligns with the European principle of parity between mental and somatic healthcare. - Collaborative care
Reimburse consultations between psychiatrists, general practitioners and clinical psychologists. This has proven added value and effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety and depression, according to the Collaborative Care Model. - Support outpatient practices
Outpatient mental health care practices as a sustainable community-based care model, complementary to CGGs and outpatient clinics. The structural deployment of psychologists, social workers, and nurses, with administrative support and telematics premiums, enables the targeted deployment of the outpatient psychiatrist within a high-quality, community-integrated mental health care landscape. - Structural representation
Structurally anchor outpatient psychiatrists in mental health care Networks and other consultative bodies. Their involvement is essential for balanced, integrated care models and the effective implementation of Article 107 regarding the community integration of care.