After representatives of the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) slammed the health policies of Minister of Health Paulette Lenert (Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party – LSAP), the Democratic Party (DP) also expressed criticism on Wednesday morning, albeit more gently. MP Carole Hartmann said that “we need to be honest and say that we are lagging behind when it comes to health policies.” In recent years, she and her party have “often pointed out one problem or another in this area.”
As examples, Hartmann cited delays of up to two months for MRI scans or mammograms, where it is reportedly even worse. She referred to testimonies of women with a lump in their breast who had to wait for one or two years before they could get appointments. “This is simply too long,” Hartmann said.
According to the MP, it was also the DP that “initiated discussions on outpatient care,” i.e., healthcare structures outside of hospitals. Regarding the risk of “two-tier healthcare,” Hartmann stated that it already exists since those who can afford it go abroad. Options should be expanded, and, in her opinion, there should be “a balance between hospitals, which should focus on their core business” – major surgeries – “and medical structures outside of hospitals.”
Hartmann shares the Council of State’s analysis that doctors should be free to exercise their profession. In her opinion, doctors have the skills and means to work with heavy equipment outside of the hospital. “The financial aspect could be regulated via agreements and the nomenclature,” she suggested.
Isn’t that what Paulette Lenert is trying to do? To this question, the MP replied that, of course, healthcare should be available to all at the same price, but also everywhere and close to where people live. Following the Council of State’s opinion on the outpatient care bill, the Chamber of Deputies “still has work to do,” Hartmann added.
