Not ABC’s Private Practice, but VUB’s University General Medical Practice

The team

 
Let’s introduce our stars: the general practitioners of the practice are Hanne Desmet, Nora de Windt, Els Huybregts, Célestin Fokoua and Herman Van Herck. All the doctors have their own specialty.
 
For general dental care, students can make an appointment with one of the dentists in the general practice, Arnaud De Middeleer or Nathalie Wambeke. At certain moments, there are also specialist doctors available.
 
Koen is the famous practice assistant who is responsible for the patients’ welcome and reception.
 

a general medical practice for everyone

 
Finding a good multilingual practice in Brussels is not easy. The University general medical practice is accessible to everyone, although most patients are VUB students or personnel. Alumni are loyal patients of the practice as well.
 
“We are a very social and open practice”, explains Koen. “We try to keep the barriers to visit us as low as possible. For example, we charge normal consultations at convention rates. Furthermore, all our physicians are multilingual, so international students are also most welcome!”
 
The doctors work close with other services and departments at the VUB, like the University hospital in Jette. This makes it easier to refer patients to the right aid services.
 
 “You can talk to us about anything”, say doctors Hanne Desmet and Nora de Windt. “There are no forbidden subjects in our practice.”
 

‘Meet and greet’ the doctors

 
Students can make an appointment online or by telephone. Please make sure to contact the practice assistant when you can’t make it to your appointment, otherwise the physicians or dentists lose valuable time. Each day students can consult one of the doctors by phone between 1.30 PM and 2 PM for short medical advice or requesting lab results.
 
“We are very flexible. If a student comes to us with an urgent problem, we will help him or her immediately”, explain doctors Nora de Windt and Hanne Desmet. “If it’s urgent, students can call the practice, even if our online agendas are fully booked.”
 
Furthermore, there is a doctor on call available, every day from 8 PM until 11.30 PM and in the weekends and on holidays from 8 AM until 11.30 PM. The physician on call will charge the convention rate for on call services, which is higher than the general convention rates for an appointment during the opening hours of the practice.
 
The physicians are there to help students during the entire study and exam period. Even between Christmas and New Year, when most services at the VUB are closed, the doctors are available. The University general medical practice has limited opening hours during this period.
 

Brussels Health Campus

 
With all the specialists, nurses and doctors in training walking around, there is a lot of knowhow on the Brussels Health campus. On the website doctoranytime.be/en you can find a general practitioner in your neighborhood who speaks your language.