FAQ
Below you will find all of the most frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Why go to a medical post rather than the A&E department?
Emergency services should be reserved for cases requiring specific hospital care. If you go to A&E for complaints that require general medical attention (primary care), you will not be given priority over life-threatening cases or those requiring hospital emergency care (secondary care), and you may therefore have to wait for several hours.
Do I need to make an appointment?
Consultations at medical posts are without appointment. You can therefore go there directly.
You can find their locations and opening hours here.
If you are unable to travel, call 1733. After taking your contact details and medical complaints, a doctor will be sent to your home.
You can find their locations and opening hours here.
If you are unable to travel, call 1733. After taking your contact details and medical complaints, a doctor will be sent to your home.
Who are the on-call doctors?
The on-call doctors practise general medicine on a daily basis. They have signed a charter guaranteeing you standard fees, compliance with the code of ethics and the practice of general medicine without prior selection based on age, gender, religion or medical conditions.
I am registered with a medical centre. Can I come?
If you are registered with a medical centre on a flat-rate basis, you can go to a medical post outside the opening hours of the medical centre to which you are affiliated or call a doctor for a home visit.
We will then apply the "co-payment" system. This means that you will only pay the "co-payment" and the balance will be billed directly to your medical centre. You can, of course, also pay the full amount due and obtain a refund from your medical centre upon presentation of the certificate of care provided.
We will then apply the "co-payment" system. This means that you will only pay the "co-payment" and the balance will be billed directly to your medical centre. You can, of course, also pay the full amount due and obtain a refund from your medical centre upon presentation of the certificate of care provided.
Can the on-call doctor replace my regular doctor?
An on-call doctor is not intended to replace your regular doctor! They are there to provide support when your regular doctor is absent or outside of consultation hours (weekends, holidays, public holidays, etc.).
If you do not yet have a regular doctor, you can find one in your neighbourhood via the link below.
Find a doctor
If you do not yet have a regular doctor, you can find one in your neighbourhood via the link below.
Find a doctor
Can I bring my baby to the medical post?
Of course! The on-call GP is qualified to assess your child's symptoms. If necessary, they will prescribe the appropriate medication or refer you to a GP.
Is there an on-call medical specialist service?
There is no public on-call medical specialist service. On-call doctors are in contact with specialist doctors, who take over when necessary. If you would like to find information on other medical or psychosocial services, please visit the "useful links" page.
Useful links
Useful links
Where are the medical posts located?
What are the opening hours of the medical posts?
How do I get to the out-of-hours medical post? Is it easy to park nearby?
Out-of-hours medical posts are accessible by public transport and some have parking nearby. Consult the map for more information.
Out-of-hours medical posts
Out-of-hours medical posts
I cannot get to the out-of-hours medical post: what should I do?
If you are unable to travel, call 1733: an on-call doctor will visit your home as soon as possible. Home visits are organised on weekdays from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays. The service is available in the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region.
Where can I find a GP to consult outside of on-call hours?
The list of general practitioners practising in the Brussels-Capital Region is available on the FAMGB website.
FAMGB website
FAMGB website
Is the quality of care provided by a registered healthcare provider the same as that provided by a non-registered provider?
There is no link between the quality of care provided and the prices charged. The quality of care does not therefore depend on the status of the healthcare provider.
I am not resident in Belgium: can I come to the medical post?
You can access general medical services even if you are not resident in Belgium. After paying for the consultation, you will be given a document enabling you to claim reimbursement in your country of origin (social security in a European Union country or private insurance).
How much does the consultation cost?
Le montant des consultations correspond au tarif conventionné. Cela signifie que tous les médecins de la Garde Bruxelloise appliquent le tarif de base prévu par une convention annuelle entre les mutualités, les médecins et l’INAMI (Institut National d’Assurance Maladie-Invalidité). Vous ne payerez, après remboursement, que la partie que la mutuelle ne prend pas en charge (=le ticket modérateur)
Regulated rate
Regulated rate
Payment and administration
Can I pay by debit or credit card?
You can pay by Bancontact or credit card (Mastercard, Visa), whether at the medical post or at a home visit.
We prefer card payments to cash payments!
We prefer card payments to cash payments!
On my treatment certificate, my doctor has written 'yes' in the 'amount paid' box. What does this mean?
Sometimes a healthcare provider will write 'yes' or 'no' in the box for the amount on the certificate of care. This tells the mutual insurance fund whether the patient has paid the full co-payment.
What documents do I need to bring with me?
To come to the medical post or use the mobile on-call medical service, you must bring the following documents: your identity card or your national number. If you are registered with a third party organisation (CPAS, Fedasil, Red Cross), please also bring the document certifying this. Payment is mainly by debit or credit card.
I don't have my identity card, is that a problem?
It is always best to bring your identity card as this makes it easier to track your record. Otherwise, you must have at least one form of identification (passport, residence permit) and, if possible, a recent mutual insurance fund sticker.
Can't find the answer to your question?
