title: Anesthesiology in the Belgian health care environment.
abstract: This article focuses on anesthesiology practice in the context of Belgian health care. The first part describes the organization of Belgian health care, the role of private and public initiatives, the division of responsibilities between the different health authorities, the financing mechanisms, and the central role of the compulsory social health care insurance. Quantitative information on the evolution of expenditures, services, providers, and facilities is presented. The second part of the article deals more specifically with anesthesiology and contains information on current practice. The emphasis, however, concerns recent developments in training and accreditation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Affairs, University Hospitals, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vleugels
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000758:Anesthesia; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D001530:Belgium; D003669:Deductibles and Coinsurance; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005377:Financial Management, Hospital; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006282:Health Personnel; D006296:Health Services; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health