In Wallonia-Brussels Federation, three universities offer complete medical studies- one in Wallonia (ULiège, in Liège) and two in the Brussels Region (ULB, in Brussels; UCLouvain, in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert). However, the presence of such a course doesn’t seem to fight once morest the shortage problem currently affecting general practitioners. According to data from the Walloon agency for a quality life (AVIQ) and the figures published by the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Forecasting and Statistics (IWEPS), the answer is clear- no.
The only Walloon province with a complete course (Liège) has a higher ratio of inhabitants per FTE general practitioner (1 doctor for 1,096 inhabitants) than the regional average (1 med. for 1,073 Hab). The provinces of Namur (1 med. for 939 inhab.), Hainaut (1 med. for 1,094 inhab.) and Luxembourg (1 med. for 1,078 inhab.) have a better ratio. However, the province of Walloon Brabant, geographically closest to the medical faculties of UCLouvain and ULB, has the worst ratio: 1 doctor for 1,129 inhabitants.
Three municipalities- Berloz (prov. Liège), Daverdisse (prov. Lux.) and Martelange (prov. Lux.)- have no general practitioner on their territory. The municipalities of Lontzen (prov. Liège; 1 med. for 5,885 inhab.), Baelen (prov. Liège; 1 med. for 4,436 inhab.) and Froidchapelle (prov. Hainaut; 1 med. for 3,646 inhab.) have the lowest ratio. Conversely, Tellin (prov. Lux.; 1 med. for 435 inhab.), Viroinval (prov. Namur; 1 med. for 486 inhab.) and Érezée (prov. Lux.; 1 med. for 578 inhab.) have the best ratio.
However, statistical reality doesn’t prevent the municipality of Viroinval, sparsely populated but very large, from being considered in shortage. Factors like the number of doctors present, their age, the extent of communal surface, and distances to cover to find a general medicine offer can also impact the degree of shortage. Of the 262 Walloon municipalities, 146 suffer from a scarcity of general practitioners near them. Out of these, 37 municipalities in the province of Luxembourg out of 44, or 85%, are the most affected. The provinces of Liège (61%), Namur (47%) and Hainaut (46%) follow. With 9 municipalities out of 27, or 33%, Walloon Brabant brings up the rear.
In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, three universities offer a full course of medical studies: one in Wallonia (ULiège, in Liège) and two in the Brussels Region (ULB, in Brussels; UCLouvain, in Woluwé-Saint- Lambert). However, does the presence of such a course make it possible to fight once morest the shortage which currently affects general practitioners? In view of the figures published by the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Forecasting and Statistics (IWEPS) and data from the Walloon agency for a quality life (AVIQ), the answer seems clear: no.
Indeed, the only Walloon province in which a complete course is organized (Liège) has a higher number of inhabitants per FTE general practitioner (1 doctor for 1,096 inhabitants) than the regional average (1 med. for 1,073 Hab.)!
The provinces of Namur (1 med. for 939 inhab.) and Hainaut (1 med. for 1,094 inhab.) also have a better ratio, as does that of Luxembourg (1 med. for 1,078 inhab. ). On the other hand, it is the province of Walloon Brabant, which is geographically the closest to the medical faculties of UCLouvain and ULB, which has the worst ratio: 1 doctor for 1,129 inhabitants.
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If we specify the analysis at the municipal level, we see that 3 municipalities do not currently have any general practitioner on their territory: Berloz (prov. Liège), Daverdisse (prov. Lux. ) and Martelange (prov. Lux.).
The municipalities of Lontzen (prov. Liège; 1 med. for 5,885 inhab.), Baelen (prov. Liège; 1 med. for 4,436 inhab.) and Froidchapelle (prov. Hainaut; 1 med. for 3,646 inhab.) are those with the lowest ratio. Conversely, those of Tellin (prov. Lux.; 1 med. for 435 inhab.), Viroinval (prov. Namur; 1 med. for 486 inhab.) and Érezée (prov. Lux.; 1 med. for 578 inhab.) have the best ratio.
Luxembourg, particularly affected
However, it is necessary to qualify. This statistical reality does not prevent the municipality of Viroinval, sparsely populated but very large, from being considered as in shortage. This is because the number of inhabitants per FTE doctor cannot, on its own, explain the degree of shortage in terms of general practitioners.
At municipal level
the number of doctors present, as well as their age, but also the extent of the communal surface and the distances necessary to cover to find a general medicine offer can also impact this degree of shortage. Thus, out of a total of 262 Walloon municipalities, 146 (55%) suffer from a lack of general practitioners on their territory or nearby, to the point of being affected by the Impulseo fund of the Walloon Region
(Editor’s note: for the 9 German-speaking municipalities of Wallonia, it is the German-speaking Community which is competent).
The province of Luxembourg is the most affected (37 municipalities out of 44, or 85%). The provinces of Liège (61%), Namur (47%), then Hainaut (46%) follow. With 9 municipalities concerned out of 27 (i.e. 33%), Walloon Brabant brings up the rear.
here we consider the municipalities that benefit from the Impulseo fund to be in short supply. This content is not available in this configuration.
Despite having three universities in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation offering full medical courses, the shortage of general practitioners remains a significant issue. According to data from the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Forecasting, and Statistics, only a few provinces have a better ratio of doctors to inhabitants than the regional average, with Walloon Brabant having the worst ratio. Furthermore, some municipalities do not currently have any general practitioners on their territory. It is important to note that factors such as the number of doctors present, their age, the extent of the communal surface, and the distances necessary to cover to find a general medicine offer can also impact the degree of shortage. Thus, out of a total of 262 Walloon municipalities, 146 suffer from a lack of general practitioners on their territory or nearby. The Impulseo fund of the Walloon Region currently supports these municipalities. The province of Luxembourg is the most affected, followed by Liège, Namur, and Hainaut, while Walloon Brabant brings up the rear. Addressing this shortfall in general practitioner numbers remains a critical concern for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
