SIS Card
| SIS Card | |
|---|---|
SIS Card | |
| Type | Medical identification |
| Issued by | BEL |
| First issued | 1998 |
| Purpose | Reductions in hospitals and pharmacies and recording of a patient's medical history |
| Valid in | European Union |
| Eligibility | Living in Belgium (1998–2013) |
| Expiration | 10 years after issue or 31 December 2016 whichever is earlier |
The SIS Card (SIS = Sociaal InformatieSysteem / Système Information Social, English: Social Information System) in Belgium was a chip card system. The cards were credit card size and were used to justify the rights of the owner (or their legal guardian, for minors) to access a social security system when spending on medicine.
The card was first issued in 1998 for all people living in Belgium.
From 1 October 1998 it was compulsory for every Belgian citizen to possess a SIS card.
In August 2011, it was announced the cards would soon stop being issued.
Starting on 1 January 2012, citizens wishing to do so, (and with their medic's pharmacist's agreement) could show their ID card instead of SIS. However, a medic or pharmacist could not refuse a SIS card and could refuse to accept an ID card.
Starting on 1 January 2014, SIS cards were no longer compulsory for Belgian citizens, no longer issued, and health workers were allowed to refuse them. Boxes into which citizens could dispose of their SIS cards were provided.
On 1 January 2017, all cards then active expired and they cannot be any longer accepted. The card was replaced by isi+ Card.