Citizens in Belgium form cooperative to build Medical Center
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In Chiny, Belgium, citizens founded “Cœur de Santé” (Heart of Health) in April 2026, a cooperative aiming to establish a medical center by the end of 2027.
Residents took action because of a shortage of general practitioners in the area and difficulty attracting new doctors. The group intends to create a sustainable healthcare solution by building and managing a medical home that prioritizes patient access and supports practitioners.
The cooperative will be open to everyone, with each euro invested going directly towards improving the center’s infrastructure. Organizers chose the cooperative model to prioritize social benefit over profit, hoping to demonstrate that community investment can attract medical professionals where traditional funding has failed.
They plan to secure a bank loan by raising 10% of the necessary funds through citizen investment via the Coophub platform, with shares starting at 50 euros. “Cœur de Santé” envisions a facility that handles all administrative tasks, allowing doctors to focus on patient care. Beyond general practice, they aim to include physiotherapists, nurses, psychologists, and midwives.
The group is currently seeking a location and plans to initially launch in a rented space if they secure commitments from at least two part-time doctors. They also plan to expand access to healthcare by potentially creating medical outposts in nearby villages like Suxy.
