The long-term care beds in hospitals in Belgium have been experiencing a general decline over the past decade. Starting from 1.75 thousand beds in 2013, there has been a significant reduction, with the number of beds decreasing to 0.893 thousand by 2023. This equates to a total decline of approximately 48.97%. The highest decline occurred from 2013 to 2014 with a year-on-year variation of -36.09%. Between 2019 and 2023, the beds continued to decrease each year, with the highest recent year-on-year decline being -5% in 2023.
Looking ahead, the forecasted data indicates a continued reduction in the number of long-term care beds in hospitals, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -4.38% expected from 2024 to 2028. The bed count is predicted to fall to 0.677 thousand by 2028, marking a forecasted five-year growth rate decline of -20.07% from 2023.
Future trends to watch for include potential impacts from demographic shifts such as aging populations, policy changes in healthcare funding, and the evolving needs and preferences of long-term care patients. Monitoring these factors will be essential for anticipating further developments in the supply of long-term care beds in Belgium’s hospitals.
