More medical students to become family doctors

In Brussels Expo yesterday, about 5,000 candidates took part in the entrance examination for medical studies to become a doctor or dentist. That's about three times as many as a decade ago, said Jan Eggermont, president of the exam organising committee, in De Standaard.

While certain medical specialties – such as psychiatrist or geriatrician – have seen a significant decrease in the number of enrolled students, the number of students aspiring to become a doctor or dentist, on the other hand, continues to rise.

In the Netherlands, by comparison, there is only one doctor per 2,300 inhabitants, while in Belgium there is one doctor for every 1,250 people. This ratio continues to improve, as more and more medical students in Belgium opt for a career as a general practitioner (GP), or family doctor.

Next academic year, 302 new students will join the graduate programme on their way to becoming GPs, three times more than 10 years ago. Eggermont cites two reasons for the upward trend: "First of all, the fees for GPs have gone up in recent years, and the working conditions have improved. Secondly, the training itself has become more attractive," he told De Standaard.

According to Eggermont, a similar upgrade would benefit the specialisation programmes, where there is a shortage of new students.