When it comes to building a healthy community, it takes a village. But, when healthcare does not have such a community-focused approach, people living in socio-economically vulnerable circumstances lose out.

Belgium is a country with a mixture of healthcare outlooks. Like its European neighbours, for many residents healthcare is highly equitable. However, Belgium also has a significant number of communities whose access to healthcare is more limited. People from lower educational backgrounds, with lower levels of income and people living in socially vulnerable circumstances, among other factors, find it difficult to access traditional healthcare services.

In some low- and middle-income countries, primary healthcare is provided by community health workers. They are trusted members of their communities who use their shared life experiences to bring care closer to patients. For people living in vulnerable circumstances within these communities, extra support is required to get access to the services they need.

In 2021 the National Institute for Sickness and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) gave the task to the health insurance funds to employ roughly 50 community health workers in socio-economically vulnerable neighbourhoods in 10 Belgian cities. Their role was to find ways to adapt to and overcome the barriers their communities face in getting access to care. Taking inspiration from community health workers in other countries, they are implementing links between the communities and healthcare services in Belgium.

Unmet health needs and inequities in health status can be addressed thanks to community health workers. By adapting their support to the unique circumstances of the groups they serve, community health workers can improve the efficiency and performance of health systems, bridging the gap between those who need help and those who can provide it.