On Wednesday 12 October, the Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD) denounced point by point, with a legal opinion, in Luxembourg following a health policy made up of "ideology, ignorance, insouciance, incoherence and incompetence". Highlighting a generalised frustration, the AMMD also looked at health minister (LSAP) and the federation of Luxembourg hospitals (FHL).
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When asked, the FHL said it did not want to "add fuel to the fire", even if it severely judges the position and the aggressive strategy of the AMMD. The FHL is indeed aware of the problems in the health sector, but it refuses to paint such a gloomy picture of health as the AMMD. "The shortage of doctors is not just a problem in Luxembourg. It is the whole of Europe that is affected. The AMMD talks about an escape of doctors from Luxembourg, but does not provide any figures. Within the hospitals, we do not see an escape of doctors," assured , vice-president of the FHL and director general of the Emile Mayrisch hospital center (Chem).
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"On the whole, the Luxembourg health system is rather good, which is regularly confirmed by the OECD. We have a solid and egalitarian system, in addition to easy access to doctors and specialists for the patient. But because this access is easy and there is no filtering by general practitioners, this can indeed cause waiting, because it is difficult to distinguish between the notion of urgency. Waiting three months or more for an appointment is indeed too long. But to say that the health system is failing over the last 15 years is wrong and does not reflect the opinion of the FHL at all," added Metz.
Without going into detail about the various problems in the health sector, the FHL pleads for the continuation of discussions through structures like the Gesondheetsdësch ("health round table"). The FHL does not hide the fact that there are indeed compromises to be found, but it pleads for a fair balance between access to specialists in hospitals and in private practice.
The Gesondheetsdësch, a valuable instrument
(LSAP), MP and chairman of the Health Committee in the Chamber, reacted that "anything that is excessive is insignificant". A former health minister, he did not appreciate seeing the AMMD turn the tables by advocating a complete rethink of the Luxembourg health system.
"It is irresponsible for the AMMD to try to pit the different health actors against each other. This is the wrong approach and I think that on several issues, including digitalisation, the AMMD is very poorly advised," said Di Bartolomeo. "Hospitals, outpatients and primary care must work together to meet the challenges of the moment, and not the other way round", explained the MP, who considers that the Gesondheetsdësch "is a very valuable instrument that should not be condemned or slandered lightly. It is a tool where all actors can meet and look at what can be improved and what can be new challenges. It is important not to destroy this instrument and to give it a chance to come to a conclusion.”
"There are priority areas such as medical demography and nursing staff, or the question of working conditions, there are areas of training for doctors, etc. But to note that the system is not working as well as it could be. But to say that the Luxembourg health system resembles the health system of a developing country is purely and simply irresponsible and in no way reflects reality. Especially since it is thanks to this health system that we have been able to get through the health crisis for two years," concluded Di Bartolomeo.
This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.