Belgium – Prescriptions and Medications

What are pharmacies called in Belgium, and how do I recognise one?

Belgian pharmacies are referred to as apotheken in Dutch and pharmacies in French, a linguistic distinction that reflects the country’s multilingual makeup — Dutch is the dominant language in Flanders, French prevails in Wallonia, and a small German-speaking community exists in the eastern part of the country. In Brussels, you will encounter both terms side by side. In the German-speaking east, the word Apotheke is used instead.

The most reliable way to spot a pharmacy on any Belgian street is to look for the illuminated green neon cross mounted on or above the building’s exterior. This symbol is standard across the country and remains clearly visible even after dark.

Belgian pharmacies are responsible for dispensing — and where necessary, preparing — both prescription and non-prescription medicines for patients. The retail sale of medications is not permitted outside the pharmacy setting, even for products available without a prescription. Ordinary shops and supermarkets may offer a limited selection of para-pharmacy items such as plasters, skin creams, and antiseptics, but this is considerably more restricted than in many other countries where a wide variety of medicines can be bought in convenience stores or supermarkets. In Belgium, a trip to the pharmacy is almost always necessary.

To locate pharmacies in your area, visit apotheek.be and select “vind een apotheek” on the homepage. The site is available in both Dutch and French, but the search feature is intuitive and easy to navigate regardless of your preferred language.

What are pharmacy opening hours in Belgium?

Most pharmacies in Belgium operate during standard weekday business hours and open for reduced hours on Saturday mornings. They generally follow a schedule aligned with regular office hours from Monday to Friday, and some may close briefly during lunchtime or work on a rotating timetable with nearby pharmacies.

In cities and larger towns, it is more common to find pharmacies with extended weekday hours, and a number stay open into the evening. In rural settings, hours tend to be shorter, and lunchtime closures may be longer. If you are relocating from a country where pharmacies are open late or around the clock, adjusting to Belgium’s more restricted hours may take some time.

The majority of pharmacies are closed on Sundays, but on-duty pharmacies — known as pharmacies de garde in French or wachtdienst apotheek in Dutch — remain operational during weekends and public holidays to ensure access to essential medicines.

Outside of standard hours, you can identify the nearest on-call pharmacy through w8post.be, by dialling 0903 99 000 (charged at €1.50 per minute), or by calling 1733 for urgent medical assistance. You can also use geowacht.be to search for duty pharmacies open until 10 pm by location. In larger cities, at least one pharmacy is typically accessible at any given time.

Which medications can I buy over the counter in Belgium, and which require a prescription?

Whether a medication requires a prescription in Belgium depends on its classification under Belgian pharmaceutical law. Common remedies such as mild pain relievers, antacids, and basic cold treatments are often available without a prescription and can be bought directly over the counter at the pharmacy. However, medicines carrying a greater risk of misuse or those with more potent effects require a valid prescription from a licensed medical professional before they can be dispensed.

It is important to be aware that Belgium applies stricter rules around over-the-counter sales than many other countries. Products freely available from supermarket shelves elsewhere — for example, larger pack sizes of ibuprofen or certain antihistamines — can only be obtained through a pharmacy in Belgium. If you are uncertain about the status of a particular product, your pharmacist is the best source of guidance.

In addition to medicines, pharmacies also stock a range of para-pharmacy products — including sports supports, sunscreens, and oral health items — which can be purchased without a prescription and sit alongside medicinal products on the shelves.

When it comes to online purchases, prescription medicines may only be handed over in person at the pharmacy counter following the presentation of a valid medical prescription. Non-prescription products may be sold online by pharmacies, but only under strict conditions and exclusively through websites that have been officially notified to both the FAMHP and the Order of Pharmacists. The register of authorised websites is published on the FAMHP website.

Regulations exist to protect patients and ensure the legitimacy of online pharmaceutical sales. Approved online pharmacies in Belgium must have a registered physical presence and hold authorisation from the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP), the body responsible for overseeing the quality, safety, and effectiveness of medicines in the country. Exercise caution with any unlicensed online seller — obtaining prescription medicines through unofficial websites is both illegal and potentially hazardous to your health.

How does the prescription system work in Belgium?

Belgium has largely transitioned to a paperless prescription model. Since 1 January 2020, electronic prescriptions have been the legal standard, with paper prescriptions permitted only in a limited set of exceptional circumstances. This places Belgium among the more advanced healthcare systems in Europe in terms of digital health infrastructure.

Prescribers are required to issue electronic prescriptions in all but a handful of defined situations. At the pharmacy, the pharmacist reads your electronic identity card and is thereby able to retrieve any prescriptions registered in your name. You can also view your own prescriptions at any time through the online platform MijnGezondheid.be or via the My Medicines app.

A prescription is valid for three months from the date it is written, unless the prescribing doctor specifies an alternative date of delivery on the document. This means you have a three-month window in which to collect the medication from the pharmacy, though this window may be shortened or extended depending on what the prescriber indicates. Unlike some other systems — such as Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, where repeat supplies are issued upfront — in Belgium you generally need to revisit your doctor for a fresh prescription when your supply is running low.

Both general practitioners (GPs) and specialists are authorised to write prescriptions. While you have the freedom to consult a specialist of your choice, it is advisable to see a GP first, as doing so avoids higher out-of-pocket costs. Your GP may also issue a prescription prior to a specialist consultation where this is clinically appropriate.

Where a doctor prescribes a medication by its active substance name rather than a brand name, the pharmacist is obliged to supply the least expensive product that meets the criteria — criteria that RIZIV reviews and updates on a monthly basis. Where a specific brand is named on the prescription, the pharmacist must dispense that exact product.

How much do prescriptions and medications cost in Belgium?

Belgium’s social protection system encompasses compulsory health insurance administered by the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) — known as RIZIV in Dutch and INAMI in French. This system draws its funding from social security contributions paid by employers, employees, the self-employed, and civil servants, complemented by government subsidies and taxation.

Belgium uses a positive reimbursement list model, meaning that compulsory health insurance will only cover the cost of medicines that appear on the official list of reimbursable pharmaceutical specialties. The proportion of the cost covered by health insurance varies depending on which reimbursement category a given medicine falls into — in some cases the full price is met, while in others only a portion is covered.

Medicines available without a prescription are not reimbursed. The majority of doctor-prescribed medications are reimbursed, either in full or partially — with some reimbursed at as little as 20% of the cost. The patient is responsible for paying the difference, known as the remgeld in Dutch or ticket modérateur in French, at the point of collection.

As of 2023, the patient’s share for reimbursed medications was capped according to the relevant reimbursement category — one category sets a maximum personal contribution of €12.10 (or €15 for a large pack), while another caps the contribution at €8.00 (or €9.90 for a large pack). These figures may change over time, so it is always advisable to check the current co-payment rates on the official RIZIV/INAMI website.

When a cheaper generic equivalent exists, health insurance will reimburse on the basis of the generic price — patients who insist on the branded version will therefore pay a larger share out of pocket. Those managing a long-term condition have the option of designating a home pharmacist, who can provide tailored, free advice on their medication regimen.

While the majority of prescription-only medicines currently benefit from reimbursement, certain products are subject to additional conditions before reimbursement is granted. In some instances, prior approval from a consulting physician is necessary before the patient becomes eligible.

Will my home-country prescription be accepted in Belgium?

This question is among the most pressing for expats who arrive with ongoing medication needs. The practical answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no: a foreign prescription on its own is generally not enough to obtain reimbursed medication from a Belgian pharmacy. Belgian pharmacists are required to dispense reimbursed medicines only on the basis of a valid Belgian prescription issued through the national electronic system.

For EU nationals, a prescription issued in the EU format can in principle be recognised across member states under the EU cross-border healthcare directive. In practice, however, pharmacists may still require additional verification, and Belgian co-payment rules will apply regardless. For this reason, it is advisable to register with a Belgian GP as promptly as possible following your arrival, bring your existing prescription documentation and medical history with you, and ask your new doctor to issue a locally valid prescription for any medicines you take regularly.

If a medication you rely on is not licensed in Belgium but is authorised in another country, it may be possible to have it imported — but this process must always go through a Belgian pharmacist, not the patient directly. Your doctor must provide a prescription accompanied by a physician’s statement declaring that your condition cannot be adequately managed using medicines currently available in Belgium. Armed with this prescription and statement, you can visit a Belgian pharmacy, which is then able to arrange the import on your behalf.

To ensure continuity of care, bring enough of your existing medication to cover at least the first few weeks after arrival, while you establish a relationship with a local doctor. Carrying supporting written documentation — such as a letter from your home doctor, the original packaging with labelling, and any relevant medical records — will help make the transition as straightforward as possible.

Can I bring my medications into Belgium?

For most travellers and newly arrived residents carrying a personal supply of medication, the rules are relatively clear. The quantity of medicines brought into Belgium must not exceed a three-month treatment supply. If your stay extends beyond 30 days and your country of origin’s limit applies, or if your time in Belgium exceeds three months altogether, you should seek advice from a doctor in Belgium.

For standard prescription medicines, it is strongly recommended that you carry your prescription or a supporting letter from your prescribing doctor alongside your medication, particularly when crossing international borders. Keeping medicines in their original, labelled packaging will help prevent complications at customs.

The requirements are considerably more stringent for narcotic and psychotropic substances. Travellers who need to bring such medicines into Belgium for medical purposes must be in a position to demonstrate this with a Schengen declaration validated by the competent authority in their country of residence. Here too, the maximum permitted quantity must not exceed a three-month supply.

If you are travelling within the Schengen Area and your medication contains narcotic or psychotropic substances, you must submit the required form to the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) at least twenty working days (equivalent to four weeks) before your departure. It is also strictly prohibited to have narcotic or psychotropic substances sent to Belgium by postal or courier services.

Before travelling, always consult the FAMHP’s traveller information page to ensure you have the most up-to-date guidance, as rules are subject to revision. The FAMHP is the Belgian authority responsible for regulating medicines — overseeing their quality, safety, and efficacy for both human and veterinary use, as well as having remit over medical devices and the management of blood, tissues, and cells.

How do expats access prescription medications through health insurance in Belgium?

From the moment you begin living and working in Belgium, enrolling with a mutual insurance fund (mutuelle/ziekenfonds) is essential if you wish to have your medical and medication costs reimbursed. Without this registration, you will be required to pay the full retail price for every medicine you purchase. Making this enrolment a priority is one of the most important administrative steps any expat can take upon settling in Belgium.

Reimbursement is typically set at approximately 75% of the official RIZIV/INAMI tariff, though the exact rate varies depending on the type of medical treatment received. The remaining portion can often be covered by supplementary insurance, which many mutual funds offer as an optional add-on. These top-up packages can be particularly worthwhile for those with chronic health conditions or who require regular prescription medication.

Expats who are employed in Belgium will usually be incorporated into the social security system automatically through their employer, which grants access to the compulsory health insurance framework. Self-employed individuals and certain other groups must complete registration independently. Those who have not yet completed their enrolment — for example, during the first weeks after arrival — should note that any medications purchased in this interim period will need to be paid for in full.

Separate private health insurance, often arranged through an international insurer, may cover medication costs for expats who have not yet joined the Belgian public system, or may supplement the costs not met by the mutual fund. Review your policy carefully for details on pharmacy and prescription coverage, and check whether Belgian co-payments qualify for reimbursement under your plan.

EU citizens visiting on a temporary basis can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to claim reimbursement for urgent medical expenses. However, the EHIC is not intended as a long-term substitute for full registration in the Belgian health insurance system for those planning to reside and work in Belgium.

For detailed information on reimbursement categories and which medicines are covered, refer to the official RIZIV (Dutch) or INAMI (French) websites, which publish current reimbursement lists and co-payment schedules on an ongoing basis.

Frequently asked questions about prescriptions and medications in Belgium

What should I do if I run out of medication in Belgium?

Make an appointment with a Belgian GP as soon as you can and take along any documentation you have — your original prescription, the medicine’s packaging, or a letter from your doctor at home. Your new GP can then issue a Belgian electronic prescription for a recognised equivalent. If you face an urgent situation, call 1733 for non-life-threatening medical assistance; this service can direct you to an on-call doctor or an after-hours pharmacy outside of normal opening times.

Are brand-name drugs available in Belgium?

Where a doctor specifies a brand-name medicine on a prescription, the pharmacist is obliged to dispense that exact product. Branded drugs are generally obtainable in Belgium, though your pharmacist may point out a generic equivalent where one is available. Bear in mind that health insurance reimburses on the basis of the cheaper generic price where one exists, so insisting on the branded version may result in a higher personal contribution.

How do I find a pharmacist who speaks my language?

Belgium’s three official languages — Dutch, French, and German — mean that not every pharmacy will have staff who are fluent in other languages. In major urban centres such as Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent, English-speaking pharmacists are relatively common. The search tool at apotheek.be can help you identify pharmacies close to you, and a quick phone call ahead of your visit can clarify language availability. Showing the name and dosage of your medicine on your phone can also be a practical solution when communication is difficult.

Can my medication be ordered online in Belgium?

Prescription medicines must be collected in person at the pharmacy upon presentation of a valid prescription and cannot be delivered by post. Non-prescription medicines may be purchased online, but only through pharmacy websites that have been formally notified to both the FAMHP and the Order of Pharmacists. Before ordering online, always verify that the website appears on the FAMHP’s list of authorised platforms, and steer clear of any site offering prescription medicines without requiring a prescription.

What happens in a medical emergency involving medication?

For life-threatening emergencies, dial 112 immediately. For urgent but non-critical medical situations, call 1733, which will connect you with the nearest on-duty GP or guide you to an emergency pharmacy. Belgian hospital emergency departments also have in-house pharmacy facilities to handle acute medication requirements. If you are living with a chronic condition, keeping a copy of your prescription and a list of your medications on your person at all times is a sensible precaution.

Do I need to re-register my chronic condition prescription in Belgium?

Yes — to access reimbursed prescription medicines in Belgium, your prescriptions must be issued by a Belgian GP through the national electronic system. At your first appointment, bring your full medical history, any letters from specialists, and the original packaging of your existing medications. Your GP can then liaise with relevant specialists if required and set the local reimbursement process in motion. Patients with chronic conditions also have the option of selecting a home pharmacist, who can offer personalised, free guidance on managing their medication.

Are medication names the same in Belgium as in other countries?

Brand names for medicines vary from one country to another, which means the product you are familiar with at home may be sold under an entirely different name in Belgium. To avoid any confusion, always refer to the generic or active ingredient name of your medicine when consulting a Belgian doctor or pharmacist. This way, the correct drug will be identified and dispensed regardless of what it happens to be called locally.

Is it safe to buy medications from online sources outside Belgium?

No — bringing prescription medicines into Belgium yourself through unofficial online channels is illegal. Importation must always be handled through a registered Belgian pharmacist, never by the patient acting independently. Unregulated online suppliers frequently deal in counterfeit or below-standard products that can pose serious health risks. Always obtain your medicines from a properly registered Belgian pharmacy, whether you visit in person or use an online platform that is authorised by the FAMHP.