Brussels, Belgium – The Wallonia-Brussels Federation now boasts fifteen ministers with responsibilities related to health, an increase of three compared to the previous legislature, according to a report published by La Libre Belgique. This expansion reflects a significant distribution of health-related skills across multiple ministerial portfolios within the French-speaking government.
Yves Coppieters holds health responsibilities in Wallonia and at the Federation level, overseeing the Royal academy of Medicine, approval and contingency of healthcare professions, and the Scientific Society of General Medicine. This dual role is described as equivalent to two health ministers, acknowledging the total of twelve previously held.
Minister-President Elisabeth Degryse (The Committed) is responsible for French-speaking academic hospitals and higher education. Valérie Glatigny (MR), Minister of Compulsory Education, exercises political supervision over psycho-medico-social centers, while Jacqueline Galant (MR), also Minister of Sports, is responsible for medico-sporting control.
In Brussels,alain Maron and Barbara Trachte (Ecolo) oversee health promotion for Cocof – Francophones in Brussels,and Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) is responsible for Flemish Health policy for Cocom.
The report notes that this broadened distribution of health-related competencies, while logical in some respects, was not addressed as a potential issue during the formation of the current governments.