Until recently, certain medical devices could only be distributed in Belgium through limited channels (pharmacies or dental practitioners). In addition, Belgian law prohibited the sale of some medical devices directly to physicians; consequently, patients could obtain such devices only from pharmacies.

A royal decree which entered into force on 7 February has repealed these restrictions, thereby liberalising the distribution of medical devices in Belgium and aligning the Belgian market to those of most other EU Member States. 

Patients and healthcare professionals can now buy the medical devices in question directly from any distributor (pharmacies, supermarkets and parapharmacies) duly registered with the competent authority for this purpose or even directly from the manufacturer.