Luxembourg boasts a healthcare system that is widely appreciated by its patients. According to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 93% of patients consider the quality of care to be satisfactory and 91% feel that it is adapted to their needs. These scores are above the OECD averages of 87% and 85% respectively. Confidence in the healthcare system also remains high, with two out of three people (66%) saying they have faith in their medical treatment.

Beyond the care provided, the perceived state of health is also encouraging: 72% of respondents consider their physical health to be satisfactory and 86% feel they are in good mental health, again above the OECD averages of 70% and 83%.

Based on patient-reported indicator surveys (“Paris” surveys) conducted in 19 countries and involving more than 107,000 patients, this study is based directly on patients’ experiences rather than on administrative or clinical indicators. In Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), commissioned by the Department of Health, surveyed 1,590 patients aged 45 and over, as well as 52 medical practices.

Black spots persist

But not everything is perfect. The lack of care coordination remains a major issue. Only 18% of patients with chronic diseases are cared for in practices equipped to share medical records electronically, far from the OECD average of 57%. This is a shortcoming that can “undermine continuity of care” says the LIH.

What’s more, only 18% of patients suffering from several chronic pathologies benefit from follow-ups involving healthcare professionals other than doctors, compared with 83% in the OECD, says the institute.

Another critical point: digital health. Only 11% of patients say they are comfortable searching for and understanding medical information online, a figure well below the OECD average, which is already relatively low (19%). More generally, only 56% of patients feel able to manage their own health, compared with an average of 59% in the other countries surveyed.

This article in French.