Minister Lenert was first asked about the recent announcement that the Centre hospitalier du Nord (CHdN) in Ettelbruck has to shut its maternity unit temporarily in light of staff shortages. The LSAP politician acknowledged the severity of the problem and explained that the situation is likely to remain unchanged over the coming weeks.
The politician explained that the ministry is now working on short-term solutions: “We are trying to be practical. Adapting laws can be a lengthy process, which is why we need to ensure that coordination between the remaining maternity units works efficiently. We also have a mobile unit specialised for pregnancy-related emergencies.”
A shortage of specialised medical personnel is not only a problem in the Grand Duchy, Minister Lenert emphasised: “It shows how fragile a health sector can be and how important it is to tackle problems with a systemic approach.”
Minister Lenert also spoke about her recent decision to prevent a private doctor’s office in Potaschberg from setting up an MRI. She explained that she followed a 2018 law, which regulates that hospitals have a monopoly on this medial equipment. The politician acknowledged that the law is in conflict with the one regulating doctor’s offices, which is why the ministry is currently working on a new regulation to increase coherence.
