MR MPs Charles Gardier and Nicolas Janssen are working on a platform that allows healthcare staff to prescribe cultural or sporting activities to patients with mental complaints. The initiative should be launched at the end of this year, they confirmed on Saturday.
Source: Belga
In concrete terms, doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists with an INAMI number (French abbreviation for National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance) can choose an activity via Prescrivity and prescribe it to their patients. The tickets are free for patients, with a platform usage fee of 1.50 euros. “These are tickets that otherwise often remain unused,” the two MPs explained.
“The term ‘prescribing’ does not mean that health insurers intervene, as the initiative depends on the private sector,” they explain. “We want to contribute to the efforts, since 13 percent of the Belgian population regularly uses antidepressants. Various partners support us in financing the project. We are still looking for one partner to complete the annual budget.”
In 2022, Brussels started a pilot project in which patients received a museum prescription. In recent years, more and more museums have been participating. “But we want to offer a platform that brings together all kinds of activities. Every patient is different and has their own interests,” the MPs conclude.