Pharmacies in Belgium
In Belgium to buy prescription medications you need a prescription from a Belgium doctor (or, a doctor authorized to practice medicine in Belgium) and your SIS-card. If you are currently taking medication, make sure you bring an ample supply to last until you are able to see an authorized doctor in Brussels and get a new prescription. It is also wise to have your doctor write down the medication’s compound name as brands and names vary between countries. You pay only the restraint fee and the amount covered by the health services will already be deducted. As with doctors, the majority of pharmacies will have personnel who speak English.
Over-the-counter medications are also available. Pharmacists are knowledgeable and will give recommendations for medications if you are experiencing minor ailments or illnesses.
There are no 24-hour pharmacies in Belgium, but there is a “guard-duty”, pharmacists that will be open in evenings, holidays and weekends. The pharmacies on guard duty can be found on the door of any pharmacy you go to after hours or at http://apoteek.be/. You may have to pay higher prices if using the pharmacy after-hours unless it is urgent, so it is best to buy during normal hours.
There are 2 main pharmacy chains:
- Multipharma – http://multipharma.yours.be/
- Lloyds Pharma – http://www.lloydspharma.be/
