On Cancer Day, the importance of accessible and high-quality cancer care is highlighted. AZ Sint-Maria Halle officially received recognition for its specialized oncology care program in January 2026. This accreditation confirms the expertise built over the years and assures patients of high-level cancer care close to home. Dr. Elisabeth De Meue, medical oncologist, emphasizes the significance of this milestone.
The Flemish government confirms through this recognition that AZ Sint-Maria Halle meets all additional requirements for specialized oncology. Dr. Elisabeth De Meue states: "This recognition is a formal endorsement of the quality and professionalization of the oncological care that our teams have been building for years. It confirms that we are ready as a hospital to play a full role in the oncological care landscape and gives us a clear mandate to grow further in this domain."
For patients, the recognition means they can rely on oncological care at AZ Sint-Maria Halle that adheres to the latest international guidelines, supported by the expertise of partner hospitals such as UZ Brussel for radiotherapy. The hospital had already received recognition for basic oncological care in 2015 and has since invested further in expertise and infrastructure, including the establishment of a full Oncology department in February 2023.
Doctors with expertise in various oncological conditions, including medical oncology, pneumo-oncology, uro-oncology, radiotherapy, and hematology, have been recruited. Dr. Elisabeth De Meue adds: "The investments the hospital has made in recent years—in people, infrastructure, and collaboration—are now yielding visible results. From doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, to administration—everyone contributes to oncological care. It is a shared responsibility and a shared pride."
Collaboration with general practitioners remains unchanged through the multidisciplinary oncological consultation (MOC). The recognition primarily offers patients additional certainty that care aligns with the latest international guidelines, with close cooperation with expert centers like UZ Brussel.
The official recognition opens doors for further growth of the oncology offering and strengthens the hospital's position. This aligns with the broader vision of providing integrated and future-oriented care and enhances the hospital's appeal to new doctors with oncological expertise.
Recognition of a care program is the formal confirmation by the competent authority that a hospital meets established quality, organization, and expertise criteria for offering a specific care service. AZ Sint-Maria Halle achieved recognition for basic oncological care in 2015 and for specialized oncology in 2026, requiring a comprehensive, specialized, and structurally developed oncological offering.
