As Luxembourg's healthcare sector grapples with fundamental reform, the president of the Hospital Doctors' Union has voiced strong support for the public system's equity while warning against the long-term risks of privatised medicine.

In an RTL interview on Friday, Dr Monique Reiff, President of the Hospital Doctors' Union, addressed the ongoing debate surrounding Luxembourg's healthcare system, the recent termination of CNS conventions, and the emergence of new private clinics.

While expressing some understanding for the frustrations that led the Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD) to terminate its agreements with the National Health Fund (CNS), Dr Reiff stated that her union firmly supports the current convention-based system. She emphasised the principle of "distributive justice", arguing that since everyone contributes to the system, everyone should be entitled to the same benefits.

Dr Reiff described the ongoing negotiations over the medical nomenclature – the official list of service fees reimbursed by the CNS – as "very difficult and arduous". A key point of contention, from the doctors' perspective, is the current inability to remunerate the intellectual effort and time spent on patient consultation. This complex work is billed the same as a simple prescription renewal, a discrepancy she insists needs to be rectified.

However, Dr Reiff voiced strong criticism against the liberalisation of medicine and the involvement of private investors in healthcare. Citing international studies, she warned that while private investment may offer short-term benefits, the medium to long-term focus inevitably shifts from patient well-being and sustainability to profit generation.

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