In an interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio on Wednesday morning, MP Mars Di Bartolomeo of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) criticised what he described as mounting threats to Luxembourg’s solidarity-based healthcare model, touching on topics ranging from the minimum wage to unaffordable housing, with a sharp focus on recent developments in the health sector.
“We are currently confronted with a series of frontal attacks on the solidarity-based healthcare model here in the country”, declared Di Bartolomeo, who served as Minister of Health from 2004 to 2013.
He directed strong criticism at the Findel Clinic, now operating under the name “Findel-Medic”, as well as at the Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD) for terminating its agreements with the National Health Fund (CNS). The AMMD has cited a desire for greater autonomy over pricing, arguing that negotiations have failed to keep pace with technological and medical progress.
According to Di Bartolomeo, however, the AMMD’s primary motivation is to allow “a few doctors” to “line their pockets”. He argued that the biggest loser in this situation is the patient. Responding to the AMMD’s statement on tariff autonomy, the former minister retorted: “Then let’s get to work on it!”
Di Bartolomeo called for concrete solutions where bottlenecks or slow progress exist, insisting that “facts” must be put on the table. He explicitly defended current Health Minister Martine Deprez, stating that “the willingness is there”, and noted that a minister has the authority to make decisions when blockages arise.
While Di Bartolomeo stated he is “absolutely not” opposed to private initiatives in principle, he voiced strong objections to the Findel-Medic project. He derisively referred to the facility as “Villa Villekulla”, a reference to the whimsical home of the Swedish children’s character Pippi Longstocking. Di Bartolomeo suggested the name change from “clinic” may have been motivated by concerns that the original term could violate hospital law.
The LSAP MP expressed particular concern over the project’s backers, noting it brings together “well-known investors, developers, bankers, and doctors”. He questioned whether these are investors seeking a role in healthcare or doctors aiming to become investors. Quoting the saying “Cobbler, stick to your last,” he argued that doctors should focus on practising “good medicine” while developers should concentrate on building “at reasonable prices”.
Confronted by RTL with the observation that after 20 years of LSAP government participation between 2004 and 2013, Luxembourg still faces a shortage of doctors, strained infrastructure, and a deficit in the health insurance fund, Di Bartolomeo pushed back firmly.
He noted that when he took office as Minister of Health and Social Security in 2004, he inherited a financial shortfall in the health insurance fund left by the previous CSV-DP government. Di Bartolomeo acknowledged that the CNS is a work in progress requiring “constant” attention, but stressed that there has been “contribution stability for a long time” across all social security funds – meaning that contribution rates have remained steady.
The former minister listed his achievements during the CSV-LSAP coalition governments, including healthcare reform, pension reform, accident insurance reform, and the introduction of the single statute – a measure he said businesses remain “grateful” for. His message was clear: “I won’t hear any of it, saying that nothing happened under LSAP participation in the government!” He sees it as a “lesson” and argued that rather than “assigning blame”, the focus should be on “tackling the issues”.
Di Bartolomeo also expressed disappointment with Marc Spautz, who replaced Georges Mischo as Minister of Labour in December. He accused the minister of “beating around the bush” regarding the minimum wage.
Spautz indicated last week during an appearance on RTL Télé that the government would take a position before Easter. Di Bartolomeo acknowledged that the new minister has “the advantage of being new and coming across as more likeable”, but insisted that what ultimately matters is “what comes out at the end”.
The Minister of Labour had also pointed out to RTL that the minimum wage is indexed and adjusted to general wage developments every two years. On this point, Di Bartolomeo stressed that this adjustment is also provided for by law. According to the LSAP MP, two factors in particular should be considered: that those on minimum wage struggle to make ends meet due to the dramatic situation on the housing market, and that small businesses risk running into difficulties if required to pay higher wages.
