The debate regarding the long-term ill is intensifying once again. BVAS chairman Dr. Patrick Emonts provides a nuance that often remains overlooked: the profile of the long-term ill has changed significantly in recent years. Mental and psychosocial disorders are playing an increasingly important role — and this requires an adapted, medically substantiated approach.
BVAS is clear about the role of the physician: they provide guidance within a therapeutic relationship and cannot simultaneously act as a controller. A policy that links reintegration to monitoring and sanctions misses its mark. What works is a coherent trajectory in which the patient’s medical reality is central, with shared responsibility between the physician, patient, employer, and government.
BFAP endorses this vision. Psychiatric disorders are real conditions with a measurable impact on functioning and work capacity. Recognition is a first step — but it is not enough. Those who want people with mental health problems to be able to reintegrate sustainably must also invest in timely, specialized treatment. A functioning outpatient psychiatric second line is not a luxury in this regard, but a prerequisite.
Read the article in De Specialist here.