29.04.2025, 06:08
Dear signatory,
On 28 April 2025, we sent a registered letter with the list of 704 signatories to Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Frank Vandenbroucke. In an introductory letter, we reiterated our concerns and asked them to stop ignoring this issue. We hope for a constructive response.
The letter to the ministers can be found here as a PDF document.
A brief explanation of gender clinics in Belgium
In order to address the long waiting times for transgender care, Minister Frank Vandenbroucke called on hospitals in December 2023 to apply as a ‘centre for transgender care’. This call did not go unanswered, Flanders now has seven centers for transgender care: UZ Ghent, UZ Antwerp, ZAS Antwerp, VITAZ Sint-Niklaas, UPC KU Leuven, AZ Groeninge Kortrijk and ZOL Genk.
In order for a clinic to comply with conventional transgender care, they must have a multidisciplinary team (coordinating doctor, clinical psychologist, case manager and a social worker). Of course, this is nothing more than a smokescreen. The diagnostic term 'gender incongruence' must also be in line with the WPATH 'Standards of Care 8' recommendations.
UZ Gent is recognized in its expert role. Every other convention center must follow mandatory visiting sessions, individual coaching and intervision with the gender team of UZ Gent for three years. With this, the government wants to guide the other centers in their mission.
Six gender centres in Belgium are already accredited: UZ Ghent, CHU Liège, ZOL Genk, VITAZ Sint-Niklaas, ZAS Antwerp and CHTI Erasmus Anderlecht. Four centres also offer paediatric gender care: UZ Ghent, ZAS Antwerp, CHU Liège and Erasmus Hospital Anderlecht (in collaboration with HUDERF).
It should be clear that this project – financed by the government – is ideologically, and not scientifically, driven.
