Vlaams Belang eist strikte controle op medische kosten asielzoekers
![](/sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w28/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=lXMDzQMB 28w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w33/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=T8W0PlOz 33w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w39/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=mo9JWL5N 39w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w47/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=Y1PuCqSf 47w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w56/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=vPetJ_Da 56w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w66/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=HyDH6M4f 66w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w67/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=p7T1wp-7 67w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w78/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=DmaUNTws 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w79/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=X3DdrQXN 79w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w94/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=uizHefg4 94w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w111/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=pGWIIa8A 111w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w112/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=lSfVx0iF 112w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w131/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=yyJmd5cm 131w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w134/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=8KXP0HEV 134w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w155/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=5fgZHpZZ 155w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w158/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=UAmGLtOE 158w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w183/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=M5La-2Uu 183w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w188/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=EkB0VgRA 188w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w216/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=xqsbzG8M 216w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w222/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=oeV3iz-k 222w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w255/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=zZuNZRHO 255w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w262/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=huqargMq 262w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w300/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=0id2vg_T 300w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w310/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=N3Av7htp 310w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w353/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=q3AYSw-X 353w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w366/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=H4PdHt6q 366w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w416/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=ITqk00x7 416w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w432/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=75wxTRBW 432w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w490/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=umlmtaqN 490w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w510/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=Ldv2e_78 510w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w577/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=b6fCgL5E 577w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w600/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=V2zZDlz1 600w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w679/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=uTlKMZlx 679w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w706/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=OcB4Pg5G 706w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w799/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=GfZYthjw 799w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w832/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=B01eNBEm 832w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w941/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=4xRbvBpn 941w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w980/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=HWPzSTkT 980w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1108/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=TH7NABmk 1108w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1154/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=CD_7FAhi 1154w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1304/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=GAnEUgkY 1304w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1358/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=sKDxG8V- 1358w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1535/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=yI4bjonn 1535w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1598/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=IeutzPB7 1598w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1806/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=_u_vsgFy 1806w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w1882/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=R_ERYDXR 1882w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2125/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=SAKnD-Fj 2125w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2216/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=msMK_GmH 2216w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2500/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=VqMpunza 2500w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w2608/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=sDXm0BZ2 2608w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w3070/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=cU3y6zVX 3070w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w3612/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=H60jkYQF 3612w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w4250/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=BgNUY1nM 4250w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_news_header_novs_w5000/public/2022-08/iStock-687560156-e1628157138623.jpg?h=ed89c117&itok=WvwtUO25 5000w)
Het Vlaams Belang wil een einde maken aan het steeds maar stijgen van de medische kosten van asielzoekers. “Het tegengaan van misbruiken, door een strikte controle en een kordate aanpak, zal al veel helpen”, zegt Kamerlid Wouter Vermeersch (Vlaams Belang). “Uit de cijfers die ik opvroeg bij staatssecretaris voor Asiel en Migratie Sammy Mahdi (CD&V) blijkt dat de werkelijke medische kosten van asielzoekers in 2020 24.757.645 euro bedroegen. In 2019 was dat 21.651.579 euro en in 2018 16.303.776 euro.”
“En in de algemene uitgavenbegroting voor het begrotingsjaar 2021 lazen we dat de uitgave ‘medische kosten asielzoekerskosten’ zelfs 28.643.601 euro beloopt”, aldus Vermeersch. “Deze uitgave groepeert zowel de medische kosten verbonden aan de opvang van asielzoekers in federale centra (23.255.600 euro) als de kosten van de ‘no-shows’ (5.388.000 euro). Bij de no-shows gaat het om de asielzoekers die op afspraken voor consultaties gewoon niet komen opdagen.”
“Er moeten eindelijk concrete maatregelen genomen worden om deze hoge medische kosten terug te dringen”
“Uiteraard hangt er een prijskaartje vast aan dat niet komen opdagen bij een arts. Alleen al op die manier vervliegt er dus meer dan vijf miljoen euro”, aldus Vermeersch. “En daar het niet de asielzoekers zijn die voor de betaling hiervan dienen in te staan, worden ze ook niet geresponsabiliseerd en blijft het probleem zich steeds opnieuw stellen. En daar komt nog eens bovenop dat degenen die zich niet aan gemaakte afspraken houden de plaats innemen van Vlaamse patiënten, die dan langer moeten wachten op een afspraak voor soms belangrijke onderzoeken.”
“Het kan ook zeker niet de bedoeling zijn dat er mensen naar dit land komen voor ingrepen en behandelingen die ze ook in hun eigen land kunnen ondergaan”, merkt Vermeersch tot slot op. “Helaas kreeg ik van de staatssecretaris slechts een vaag antwoord op mijn vraag wat paars-groen zal ondernemen tegen dit zogenaamde ‘medische toerisme’. De Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken zal ‘waakzaam’ zijn bij het goedkeuren van visa voor een medische behandeling in dit land, en daarmee moeten we het doen.”