Minister of Health Martine Deprez confirmed in the Chamber of Deputies that the government will conduct an audit of the country’s universal health care coverage. The move aligns with the government’s commitment to its coalition agreement.
The universal health care programme, established as a pilot project in collaboration with several associations, provides health services to the country’s most vulnerable populations. Specifically, it offers state-funded health care to individuals without social security coverage. “Currently, around 300 people are being supported through these seven associations,” Minister Deprez explained.
Responding to a parliamentary question posed by MP Marc Baum of the Left Party (Déi Lénk) on 11 February, Minister Deprez confirmed that an audit would be conducted this year and is currently being developed. The initiative follows discussions with key stakeholders, including the Luxembourg Red Cross, Médecins du Monde, the National Social Defence Committee, Inter-Actions, homeless charity Stëmm vun der Strooss, the Youth and Drug Services Foundation, and Help on the Ground (HUT).
While the programme has been a critical lifeline for many, the minister acknowledged that it “is not working perfectly.”
Looking ahead, the government plans to expand universal health care on a broader scale by developing legislation based on the pilot project’s outcomes.
