Dr Philippe Wilmes, Vice-President of the AMMD, expressed disappointment with the recently presented National Health Plan in an interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio on Tuesday morning.
He stated that it was “yet another missed opportunity” to develop a comprehensive and intelligent strategy for “our sick healthcare system.”
According to Dr Wilmes, the plan’s excessive focus on planning and a centrally controlled economy raised concerns, as history has shown that such an approach leads to scarcity and would exacerbate existing shortages of doctors, healthcare workers, and essential medical equipment in Luxembourg.
Dr Wilmes stressed that people are suffering as they endure prolonged waiting times for medical care: “People are waiting and they are waiting themselves sick.”
He criticised the plan as being full of empty promises, primarily intended to gain political support in the lead-up to the elections.
While the plan emphasises prevention, Dr Wilmes highlighted that doctors already prioritise preventive measures, and that true prevention starts before patients even visit the doctor’s surgery.
In addition, he argued that the plan fails to address the issue of making the medical profession more attractive in Luxembourg, despite the need to replace 1,300 doctors in the coming years.
Dr Wilmes expressed concerns that the proposed plan fosters a centrally controlled administrative economy, which does not consider the perspectives of liberal doctors and neglects important healthcare professionals.
For instance, he pointed out that the plan fails to mention the 600 dentists in the country who provide care to around 10,000 individuals each day.
Although some progress has been made on certain demands following an ultimatum issued by doctors to the government in May, the AMMD has “absolutely no trust in politics"anymore and will only believe in concrete actions.
Dr Wilmes stated that the AMMD is currently waiting to see what happens next.
