In a letter addressed to Minister of Health Paulette Lenert and Minister of Social Security Romain Schneider, the AMMD says it is disappointed by a project to establish a multidisciplinary centre for radiology and medical care in Junglinster, an incentive of the commune of Junglinster and a private foundation, Robert Schumann Hospitals Foundation (not to be confused with Société Anonyme Robert Schuman, which operates the hospitals).
For the AMMD and its president Dr Alain Schmit, it is clear that the initiative for such a medical centre must come from the professional side of doctors, and not by international financiers who see an opportunity in Luxembourg to make money.
The AMMD is in principle open to partnerships between private and public actors. But a private company that does not rely on state aid could work profit-oriented and impose certain conditions on doctors. The association insists that the professional independence of the doctors is maintained, so that the medical quality can be guaranteed.
For a number of years, a group of radiologists have been planning a centre for radiology, which could possibly be erected at the Cloche d’Or. Former Health Minister Lydia Mutsch had rejected the plans in an initial phase. The doctors complained and ultimately got their way.
Now that ministerial authorisations for medical equipment were accepted, the implementation phase of purchasing these devices has come to a halt. This is due to the technical tariff, that is to say the direct and indirect charges that would incur through the use of the machines. To date, radiologists have received no response from the CNS, according to Dr Renzo Del Fabbro, co-initiator of the planned centre.
“We can not buy or rent machines without a fee. So we are stuck. On the other hand, the authorisation of these machines expires at some point. The interested partners also have certain time limits. We are in the dark.”
The AMMD had submitted a proposal to the Health Fund a few weeks ago, but neither the CNS, nor the Ministry of Social Affairs nor the Ministry of Health had responded so far, Del Fabbro said.
