The flu, a cold, bronchiolitis… doctors are not short of work this winter in Luxembourg, especially paediatricians.
In a response to a parliamentary question by the Pirate Party, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert stated that Luxembourg currently has 137 practising paediatricians. This corresponds to 1.25 paediatricians for every 1,000 children under the age of 16. In 2007, this figure was 0.90. This indicates that there has been a minor increase in recent years.
It should be noted, however, that the Ministry of Health includes all paediatricians in this figure, including those who work in research or administration and do not actively consult. The Luxembourg Association of Paediatricians lists only 76 practitioners on its website.
In terms of capacity, there are currently five beds in intensive care allocated for children and 16 beds in the Neonatology Department at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL). As part of the expansion of the Children's Clinic (Kannerklinik), capacity will be increased beginning next year. The Ministry has approved the addition of six new beds.
