[Patient-physician electronic communication]

There is a patient demand for online services provided by their doctor, but at the present, in Belgium, there are very few physicians offering such services. This article examines the different types of services and the practical, technical, legal and economic aspects of an interface for electronic doctor-patient communication in the ambulatory sector in the Belgian context. The inventory of pilot projects carried out in other countries shows high patient satisfaction rates and a low impact on doctors' workload. However, the lack of funding hinders the implementation. Given the confidential nature of data exchanged, both high level of security and development of guidelines adapted to the local Belgian context are required. Electronic communication should remain one of the modalities in a therapeutic relationship. At a technical level, using the Belgian electronic identity card and the opportunity to create a digital signature with legal value would provide a solution to most of the security requirements.