Antwerp Initiates Medical Expertise Tender for Disabled Individuals
The City of Antwerp has initiated a tender aimed at providing enhanced medical expertise for individuals with disabilities. The announcement came from Nathalie van Baren (N-VA), the alderman for social affairs, on Friday.
Research indicates that among those entering the job market through the Public Social Welfare Centre (OCMW/CPAS), a significant number are later identified as disabled. As reported by Gazet van Antwerpen, approximately one in ten social assistance recipients in the city is exempt from activation due to medical reasons, backed by a disability certificate. Nevertheless, concerns have emerged within the welfare centre regarding the validity of some of these certificates, particularly those granted indefinitely, as they fail to provide a long-term outlook, reports 24brussels.
Local political leaders emphasize that chronic medical conditions, such as persistent back pain, do not inherently signify permanent incapacity for work. They advocate for further medical evaluations to devise more realistic and tailored pathways towards employment for affected individuals.
According to Van Baren, the initiative aims to focus on effective activation, ideally through customized programs that consider the unique situations of benefit recipients. If the plan proceeds as envisioned, implementation could begin within the coming months.
