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CBD reimbursement in Belgium: what you need to know in 2025
More and more patients are interested in CBD to relieve pain, sleep better or manage chronic disorders. Can we expect CBD oil to be reimbursed by the health insurance scheme in Belgium? Here's what you need to know.
Cannabis-based medicines available in Belgium
Sativex®
Le Sativex® is currently the the only cannabinoid-based medicine authorised in Belgium. It contains a mixture of THC and CBD, and is prescribed for relieve severe spasticity in people with multiple sclerosiswhen conventional treatments are ineffective.
Prescription and reimbursement :
- Must be prescribed in principle by a neurologistHowever, any doctor may do so under his or her own responsibility, provided that the patient is informed of the risks.
- Only patients whose prescription is made by a neurologist can benefit from a partial reimbursement via the compulsory health insurance scheme (INAMI).
- It is supplied exclusively by hospital pharmacies.
Epidyolex® ?
Epidyolex®another CBD-based medicine used to treat certain rare forms of epilepsyis authorised at European levelbut is not yet available or reimbursed in Belgium.
What about other CBD products?
The CBD oils sold in shops or online are not recognised as medicines. They are often marketed as food supplementsand as such, no mutual insurance company reimburses them to date.
However, some CBD preparationsmade in pharmacies on medical prescriptioncan, in some cases very specific cases be covered by the INAMI Special Solidarity Fund. This mainly concerns rare or chronic pathologies, and requires prior validation.
Good to know: these preparations are often expensive (the price depends on the extraction method and the CBD concentration), and reimbursement is neither automatic nor systematic.
In a nutshell
- Le Sativex® is the only reimbursable drugunder strict conditions.
- The over-the-counter CBD oils are not reimbursed.
- The compounding in pharmacies can, in some rare casesare covered by the INAMI.
- Always talk to your doctor before considering CBD treatment.
Talk to your general practitioner or specialist to find out if a medical prescription may be considered, and contact your mutual insurance company to find out what steps, if any, need to be taken.
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