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Accredited Sleep Centres in Belgium
An accredited sleep centre is the official entry point for the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in Belgium. This is where INAMI-reimbursed sleep studies take place, and it is through these centres that the CPAP convention system operates. This guide explains what a sleep centre actually is, how to access one, what to expect there, and why some patients choose the direct purchase alternative.
What Is an INAMI-Accredited Sleep Centre?
In Belgium, accredited sleep centres operate under the INAMI/RIZIV Convention 785 - an agreement between the INAMI and hospital establishments defining the conditions for diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). There are currently 68 accredited centres spread across Belgium: in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.
These centres are generally housed within hospitals (university or regional) and equipped with one or more sleep laboratories - rooms fitted to record physiological parameters during sleep (breathing, blood oxygen saturation, brain activity, movements, heart rate). The team consists of pulmonologists, neurologists specialising in sleep medicine, and sleep technologists trained in electrode placement and data interpretation.
To find a centre near you, consult the full list at:
List of accredited sleep centres →
Examinations Performed at a Sleep Centre
Two main types of examination are used to diagnose sleep apnea. The choice between them depends on your clinical situation and is determined by the prescribing physician.
Ambulatory Respiratory Polygraph (Home Sleep Test)
The polygraph is performed at home with a small portable device. It is prescribed in the majority of cases, as it is less restrictive for the patient and less costly. The device records throughout the night:
- Nasal and oral airflow
- Respiratory effort (thoracic and abdominal movements)
- Blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
- Heart rate
- Body position
The following morning, you return the device to the centre. The data is analysed by the physician to calculate your apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Polygraph may occasionally underestimate AHI in complex cases.
Polysomnography (PSG)
Polysomnography is the gold standard diagnostic examination. It takes place in the centre's sleep laboratory, with one night of hospitalisation. In addition to respiratory parameters, it records:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG): brain activity and sleep stages
- Electrooculogram (EOG): eye movements
- Electromyogram (EMG): muscle tone and leg movements
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): heart rate
- Snoring recording
- Infrared camera (with your consent)
PSG is reserved for complex cases, children, patients with associated sleep disorders (narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, parasomnia) or when polygraph results were inconclusive. To learn more about these examinations, visit our page on home sleep apnea testing and our AHI page.
Waiting Times and Pathway Organisation
The journey from first consultation to starting CPAP treatment typically takes between 4 and 8 weeks. Here are the main steps:
Initial consultation with the sleep physician. Medical history, questionnaires, clinical examination. Decision on the type of exam.
Polygraph or polysomnography performed. Device returned or night in the centre. Data analysis.
Results consultation. If AHI ≥ 15: CPAP titration (at home or in centre). Convention application sent to health insurance fund.
Health insurance approval received. Equipment provided by the centre. Training on device use.
These timelines are averages. In practice, some centres have longer waiting lists, particularly in large cities. You can contact several centres in parallel to secure an appointment more quickly.
How the CPAP Convention Works After Diagnosis
If your diagnosis confirms an AHI of 15 or more (INAMI threshold since Amendment 5 of 2017), you are potentially eligible for the CPAP convention. Here is how the system works:
- The device does not belong to you. The accredited sleep centre provides a CPAP or Auto-CPAP device on loan. You do not purchase it.
- The cost is minimal. You pay a co-payment of €0.25/day, i.e. €7.50/month. If you have BIM status (increased intervention), it is entirely free.
- Everything is included. Device, mask, accessories, maintenance, repairs, replacement, medical follow-up - all included in this package.
- The 4-hour rule. You must use your device for an average of at least 4 hours per night to maintain coverage. Below this, a 3-month joker agreement is granted, and the convention may be suspended for 1 year if compliance remains insufficient.
For a full explanation of the convention system, visit our page on CPAP reimbursement in Belgium.
Why Some Patients Choose to Buy from VivaRespire Instead of Entering the Convention
The INAMI convention is an advantageous system for many patients - but it is not suited to every situation. VivaRespire is a direct purchase store, outside the convention, and meets specific needs that the convention does not cover. Here are the patient profiles that choose direct purchase:
AHI below 15
The INAMI threshold is an AHI ≥ 15 obstructive apneas per hour. If your AHI is between 5 and 14, you are not eligible for the convention - but your apnea may still affect your quality of life. A doctor can prescribe a CPAP outside the convention if clinically justified.
Immediate start
The convention pathway takes 4 to 8 weeks. If you want to start treatment as soon as you receive your diagnosis (or even before, with a medical prescription), direct purchase allows you to begin within a few days.
Free choice of model
Under the convention, the centre chooses the model - often a reconditioned or older device. Buying from VivaRespire, you freely choose from the latest connected generations (ResMed AirSense 11, DreamStation 2, Prisma Smart).
Owning your device
Under the convention, the device remains the centre's property. If you leave the convention, you return it. By purchasing your own device, you own it for life and have direct access to all your therapy data.
Second device for travel
Many convention patients look for a compact travel device, as their main device is bulky or they don't want to travel with their only machine. VivaRespire offers lightweight models such as the DreamStation 2.
No compliance pressure
The convention requires an average of 4 hours of use per night. Some patients, particularly during the adaptation phase, prefer not to have this constraint and to progress at their own pace without risking losing their coverage.
VivaRespire is not in competition with the convention system - we are complementary. Many patients benefit from the convention for their medical follow-up and purchase a second device from us for travel. Others choose direct purchase as a primary option. Every situation is different.
Our Available CPAP Devices
VivaRespire offers a selection of the best Auto-CPAP devices on the market, all brand new and latest generation:
- ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet - myAir connected, very quiet (27 dB), integrated HumidAir humidifier, pressure 4-20 cmH₂O
- Philips DreamStation 2 Auto - compact and lightweight (1.02 kg), ideal for travel, colour display, DreamMapper connected
- Löwenstein Prisma Smart Auto - German engineering, prismaLAB algorithm, precise monitoring via prismaTS
Browse our full auto CPAP catalogue or our complete sleep apnea guide for more information.
Frequently asked questions about Belgian sleep centres
Belgium has 68 accredited sleep centres distributed across Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia. Most are attached to university or regional hospitals. The complete official list is available on the Belgian apnoea patient association website: list of accredited centres. You can contact several centres in parallel to compare appointment waiting times.
The full pathway, from initial consultation to CPAP treatment initiation, usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. Times vary by centre and region: large cities often have longer waiting lists. Home ambulatory polygraphy is generally faster to obtain than laboratory polysomnography. Contacting several centres at once can significantly reduce your access time.
A referral letter from your GP is strongly recommended but not always mandatory depending on the centre. It facilitates appointment booking and improves pathway coordination. The GP plays a key role in initial screening (Epworth, STOP-BANG questionnaires) and prescribing the first consultation with a pulmonologist or sleep neurologist.
Sleep examinations (polygraphy or polysomnography) are covered by mandatory health insurance under the INAMI/RIZIV convention. You only pay a moderator ticket, the amount depending on your status (BIM or not) and the type of test. The initial specialist consultation follows the usual conventional fee. For patients outside the convention or quota, additional costs may apply.
Waiting times vary greatly between centres and seasons. University hospitals in major cities (Liege, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven) often have the longest waiting lists. Regional hospitals in the provinces (Namur, Charleroi, Hasselt, Bruges) may offer shorter waiting times. The best strategy is to contact several centres directly by phone to compare their current availability.
Yes, ambulatory respiratory polygraphy is the most commonly prescribed first-line test. You receive a portable device at the centre, take it home for one night of recording, then return it the next morning. Polygraphy is sufficient to diagnose most cases of moderate to severe obstructive apnoea. Complete laboratory polysomnography is reserved for complex cases. See our page home sleep apnoea test.
You remain free to choose your treatment path. With your diagnosis and medical prescription, you can buy your device from VivaRespire outside the INAMI convention. You then own your CPAP, freely choose the model and start immediately. Many patients combine the convention for medical follow-up with direct purchase from VivaRespire for a second travel device. To compare: CPAP reimbursement Belgium.