In Brussels, you can dial 100 from any phone to call for an ambulance or emergency personnel. It is important to note that if you can not stay on the line, it is important not to hang up, as emergency services traces your call in order to locate you. People in Brussels can also call 105 to get a Red Cross ambulance that will take you to the hospital of your choice. Ambulances are not part of the national health care plan, but may be covered by private insurance if you have it.

Most emergency personnel can speak at least basic English, but it is wise to have a card on your person at all times that lists any medical conditions you may have in either of the native languages of Belgium in case of an emergency where you are unable to communicate.

In Brussels as an expatriate, you can choose between purchasing state or private insurance. With both you are free to choose your own doctors according to your needs. It is important to be sure that you are adequately covered. When it comes to dentists, most do not accept state insurance, though some do accept partial payment from the state for dental care.

There are a number of hospitals in Brussels. While there are too many to explain each one in detail, please find below a telephone number for each hospital as well as a link to the English version of their website where such a link is available.

UZ Brussel (university hospital) +32(2) 478.06.80 or http://www.uzbrussel.be/u/view/en/17362-Home.html
Brugmann – +32(2) 477.21.11 or http://www.chu-brugmann.be/en/index.asp
Saint-Pierre - +32(2) 535.31.11
Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc - +32(2) 764.11.11 or http://www.saintluc.be/english/index.html
Hôpital Erasme - +32(2) 739.84.11 or http://www.ulb.ac.be/erasme/en/index.html
Hopital Saint Elisabeth - +32(2) 373.16.11
Hopital Saint Michel - +32(2) 737.80.00
Institut Jules Bordet - +32(2) 541.31.11 or http://www.bordet.be/en/index.htm
Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital - +32(2) 477.21.11 or http://www.huderf.be/en/index.asp

When it comes to general practitioners and specialists in non-emergency medicine, there are a number of doctors in Brussels that speak English. The US Embassy in Belgium has compiled an excellent listing of English speaking doctors in Brussels including addresses, phone numbers, and websites. This document can be found at http://belgium.usembassy.gov/medical_doctors.html

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