Minister of Health and Social Security Martine Deprez announced on Wednesday that Luxembourg has begun preparatory work to participate in a Europe-wide system for the use and exchange of medical data. The European Patient File is scheduled to launch by March 2029 at the latest. Once active, this digital file will log treatments a patient receives in other EU countries and enable doctors abroad to access key information from the patient’s national record, such as current medications or allergies.
Concurrently, Luxembourg’s own national patient file (DSP) is set for an upgrade aimed at improving navigation and overall user-friendliness. Minister Deprez stated that while the next-generation DSP must be operational by 2029 at the latest, the government intends to complete the project ahead of that deadline.
The minister also detailed another digitalisation step set for January 2026: the introduction of electronic sick notes. While the traditional paper format will remain, employees will have the option to submit a digital version. The gradual rollout of digital prescriptions is also planned for the coming years.
Currently, patients must activate their digital health records themselves. For the European file, patients will also need to specify which data they do not wish to share across borders. An exception will be made for medical emergencies, where data must be accessible to healthcare providers throughout Europe.
To meet these and other European obligations – including a shared IT system for hospitals and outpatient facilities – the government has currently allocated at least €400 million. This budget is expected to increase as further EU requirements are finalised.
