Eighty-One Days for Specialist Care in Belgium
Patients seeking specialist medical care in Belgium face an average wait time of 81 days for an initial appointment, according to figures reported by rtbf.be. The delay climbs significantly higher for specific disciplines, reaching 114 days for a dermatologist and stretching up to 131 days for an ophthalmologist.
“If you have something serious, it’s too long to go to the doctor,” a patient told rtbf.be, adding that she had to wait two months for heart surgery. Another patient noted a four-month wait for dermatology.
Smart Waiting Lists Target Medical Scheduling Gaps
To address the growing backlogs, the booking platform Doctoranytime has expanded its digital waiting list feature. The platform is used by 10% of medical specialists in Belgium who pay a monthly subscription fee to manage their schedules. The waiting list option automatically fills canceled slots by notifying registered patients when an opening appears.
Justin Barthélémy, the platform’s manager for Belgium, explained the initiative to rtbf.be. “We realized there were quite a few cancellations, so we realized there was real a waste of medical time,” Barthélémy said, noting that the tool helps both patients and doctors who otherwise lose consultation slots.
Complementary reporting by sixactualites.fr details how these smart notification systems operate. Patients indicate their availability and receive alerts via email, SMS, or app notifications when a slot frees up. The system requires users to open the message and confirm the new time within a strict deadline, as the same slot may be broadcast to multiple individuals or remain open only temporarily.
Rapid Growth in Patient Registrations Across Specialties
More than 26,000 Belgian patients are currently enrolled across the various waiting lists managed by the platform, representing a threefold increase compared to 2025 figures reported by rtbf.be. Kleopatra Karamigkou, a dentist utilizing the automated scheduling feature, confirmed the efficiency of the software. “It’s automatic as soon as there is a slot, because we must fill the day that suits, if it’s during the afternoon or the morning,” Karamigkou told rtbf.be.
Despite these digital tools, certain medical sectors continue to face severe shortages. rtbf.be notes that specialties including psychiatry, geriatrics, and medical oncology remain particularly vulnerable to staffing shortages across the country.
Keep Original Bookings Until Securing Changes
While automated cancellation alerts help bypass months of waiting, sixactualites.fr emphasizes that an alert does not replace manual confirmation. Until a patient formally accepts a new slot through the prompt, their initial appointment remains active in the clinic’s calendar. Experts advise patients to keep contact details updated, specify realistic travel constraints, and maintain their original booking until a change is officially secured.
How Patients Receive Automated Slot Notifications
How do patients receive notifications when a medical slot opens?
Patients receive automated alerts via email, SMS, or a mobile application depending on the specific services offered by the medical cabinet, as outlined by sixactualites.fr.
Does accepting an alert automatically cancel the original appointment?
No, sixactualites.fr notes that the initial appointment remains valid until the patient explicitly opens the notification and confirms the new time within the specified deadline.
What are the longest average wait times for medical specialists in Belgium?
According to figures published by rtbf.be, wait times average 81 days for specialists, 114 days for dermatologists, and up to 131 days for ophthalmologists.
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