Practical Brussels

Belgian or foreign students must be covered by healthcare insurance known as "mutuelle". This insurance offers excellent cover for your medical or pharmaceutical costs or in the event of hospitalisation.

• Students from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway or Liechtenstein are covered by the social security system in their country of origin. Before leaving their country, they must obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students may also contract an insurance policy specifically covering their stay abroad from an insurance company of their choosing.

• Students from countries outside the European Union who are covered by healthcare insurance in their country of origin must liaise with their insurer to ascertain whether the company operates in Belgium within the context of international agreements. If this is not the case, students can take out an insurance policy covering their stay abroad from an insurance company of their choosing. Mutuelle insurance providers are legally authorised to insure foreign students for healthcare provision.

To take out mutuelle medical insurance while at ICHEC, you must firstly:

• Be enrolled at a higher education institution;
• Request an enrolment certificate from your institution, for exclusive use by the mutuelle insurance provider
• Have a copy of both sides of your ID
  • For Belgian students: Belgian ID card
  • For European students: European card or E card or annex 8
  • For non-Europeans: A, B or C card or the annex 15 document for temporary stay with a valid visa (type D)

You must firstly see a doctor. It is recommended that you go to the hospital only in the event of "emergency" or on the advice of a doctor. There are several general practitioners close to ICHEC. It is not always necessary to make an appointment as doctor's surgeries often have walk-in consultations. However, for dentists and other specialists, you will need to make an appointment several days in advance. The doctor will provide you with a "consultation certification".

Brussels' healthcare service provides a very high standard of care.

Details of the nearest clinics and hospitals;

• For the Montgomery campus
  • Clinique de l’Europe Saint-Michel         
  • CHIREC             
  • Hôpitaux Iris Sud - Etterbeek-Ixelles     
  • Hôpitaux Iris Sud - Baron Lambert       
  • Clinique du Parc Léopold
• For the Anjou campus:
  • Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc

Pharmacies

Medicines are available from pharmacies which are easily recognised by their green cross sign. Some medicines can only be provided with a prescription from a doctor.

Pharmacies are open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. An out-of-hours service operates in the evenings, over the weekend and on public holidays; consult the following website for details: www.pharmacie.be .

Welfare and medical assistance on the campuses

The student social service at ICHEC is on hand for any concerns in complete confidentiality.

ICHEC has an infirmary on both campuses. The infirmary is able to provide first aid.