Parents in Luxembourg frequently criticise that finding paediatricians who can treat their sick children is becoming increasingly difficult.

Some paediatricians allegedly do not accept any new patients. The problem is exacerbated by the sometimes extended wait times in the ERs at the Children's Clinic (Kannerklinik).

Despite this well-known issue, the National Health Directorate is having difficulty providing precise figures on the current number of practicing pediatricians in Luxembourg.

Dr Serge Allard, president of the Luxembourg Association of Paediatricians, stated in a December interview with RTL Radio that "we don't have enough paediatricians, clearly."

The shortage is well-recognized among those in the field, and it's reasonable to assume that the government would take targeted action to counteract this trend, especially since the fields of pediatrics and psychiatry are generally considered to be less financially lucrative.

Professional Register does not provide comprehensive overview

The Ministry of Health itself is uncertain about the number of additional pediatricians required to ensure proper medical care for children in the country. When questioned by RTL.lu, the Ministry replied that it does not know whether all of the paediatricians listed in the "professional register" are even still actively working. According to the Ministry of Health, doctors have a "lifetime right to exercise," which means that they continue to be identified as active medical practitioners until they voluntarily request to have their authorization revoked.

The Ministry further explained that its data needs to be cross-referenced with that of the National Health Fund (CNS) for a more comprehensive understanding, but claimed that it lacks the means to do so.

Another issue at hand is the Ministry's conflicting data. On December 22, 2022, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert reported in response to a parliamentary inquiry that there are currently 137 active paediatricians in Luxembourg, while the Ministry's statement to RTL lists 127 active paediatricians for 2022. Meanwhile, the Association of Paediatricians only lists 75 doctors on its website. Our colleagues asked the Ministry for comment on these discrepancies but have yet to receive a response.

As a result, gaining a clear understanding of the situation from an external perspective is challenging. Moreover, some may question how the Ministry intends to enhance the country's healthcare sector with such insufficient data sets. Given the difficulties that paediatricians are already facing, it seems imperative to make such improvements.

Parents of sick children also frequently wonder where they should take their child in an emergency. According to the Ministry of Health, any emergency room in the country can admit children as a general rule. Depending on the nature of the emergency, however, the child may have to be transferred to the Children's Clinic anyway.

This is the case when the young patient is scored between 3 and 1 on the Canadian E.D. Triage and Acuity Scale. Children in categories 4 and 5 will be treated in the emergency departments of any hospital in the country, in close collaboration with paediatricians.

The Children's Clinic, which is part of the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), provides a 24-hour paediatric emergency service for children aged 0 to 15. The next-door out-of-hours paediatric medical centre treats less severe cases between 7am and 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends and bank holidays.