The coronavirus pandemic has once again demonstrated the importance of doctors, nurses and other health professions. However, it is well-known that Luxembourg has long been short of medical staff.

The problem must be tackled urgently to avoid a shortage in the medium term, according to Minister of Health Paulette Lenert, because Luxembourg staff alone cannot cover the Grand Duchy's needs.

Ways of making these professions more attractive have been developed in a working group of the health round table ("Gesondheetsdësch"). Promotional campaigns will also soon be launched in order to attract a wider public to the health professions.

© Maxime Gillen (RTL)

© Maxime Gillen (RTL)

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Background

Three doctors per 1,000 inhabitants: Luxembourg is poorly ranked compared to nearby countries such as the Netherlands or Switzerland. It is also well below the OECD average of 3.8. All the representatives of the health sector gathered for this round table agreed on one point: we must act quickly. Five options were discussed.

The fact is that many young Luxembourgers who go abroad to study medicine often decide to stay there after their studies. This is a trend that those in charge want to reverse. They want the best for Luxembourg, with attractive training and working conditions and modern, future-oriented medicine.

Innovation and digitisation are other key elements. Another possibility that should be considered is that of professionals being able to join forces within a company. This is not possible for the moment, but it could be interesting for young people, in order to be able to make bigger investments and have more flexibility.

Nurses have an increasingly important role in care. With 11.7 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, Luxembourg is above the OECD average of 8.6, and in line with the Netherlands and Switzerland. But fewer and fewer young people are enrolling in nursing schools. This is why a campaign should be launched relatively quickly to promote this and other health professions.

So far, these are only first ideas, and not conclusions. In the following weeks, they will be further developed in different working groups.

All the working groups of the round table will meet by December in order to draw up a first assessment before the end of the year.