Walloon Health Minister Yves Coppieters has emphasized that no decisions have been finalized regarding potential hospital restructuring, including the relocation of facilities and changes to local medical centers. The comments came during a plenary session of the Walloon Parliament on February 25, 2026, as officials review a report from independent experts presented in December 2025.
The expert report outlined a proposed ten-year transition plan for the Walloon healthcare system, including recommendations on minimum childbirth numbers and intensive care bed capacity. Coppieters stated he has “taken note of these proposals,” but stressed the necessitate for further analysis. This cautious approach underscores the complex considerations involved in reforming the region’s hospital network.
The report is currently under review by advisory bodies, with recommendations expected to be sent to the government in March and April. Political guidelines will then be established, followed by proposals from the Walloon government to adapt the policy to the regional hospital landscape. “This report is not a political decision,” Coppieters said. “For Wallonia, I will be attentive to ensuring that any implementation respects certain guidelines, such as guaranteeing access to care, taking into account population density and needs, particularly in rural areas, and ensuring equitable access to emergency services.”
New Policy Pending
Implementation of the strategic plan and any potential service reductions in Dinant remain on hold. Officials are awaiting a strategic reorganization plan from the CHU UCL Namur, which has not yet been submitted. Regarding the potential closure of Godinne and the construction of a new university hospital, Coppieters noted that the site’s approval and funding fall under the jurisdiction of the French Community. The Dinant and Sainte-Élisabeth sites, though, are the responsibility of the Walloon Region.
The CHU UCL’s plan, presented before the release of the independent experts’ report, is currently considered a vision for the future.
Concerns Over Competition
Similar caution was expressed by Élisabeth Degryse, the Minister-President in charge of the Budget for the French Community (Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles), who was questioned on the matter by Stéphane Hazée. “This project has not yet been validated by public authorities,” Degryse stated. “It therefore calls for a prudent and structured analysis, taking into account both the imperatives of quality and efficiency of care, territorial balances, budgetary constraints and, of course, university issues.”
Degryse added that the construction of a new university hospital is a significant undertaking that requires “objective and comparative analyses.” At this stage, no decision has been made to build a new facility, and alternatives must be rigorously examined, along with their organizational, territorial, and budgetary impact.
A key concern raised by Degryse involves the potential impact on the hospital in Marche-en-Famenne if the Mont-Godinne hospital were to relocate to Ciney, particularly regarding maternity services. “A move of Mont-Godinne further east, potentially in competition with the hospital in Marche, or with cascading effects on the ability of that hospital to similarly reach maternity thresholds, for example, is extremely significant and requires the greatest vigilance on the part of our Walloon and Francophone authorities.”
The CHU UCL’s strategic plan will be scrutinized by various governments before any decisions are made. The situation sets the stage for potentially difficult negotiations once the federal government adopts its reform of the hospital landscape. You can find more information about the Walloon government here and updates on the hospital situation here.
