With 2.9 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants, Luxembourg has been dealing with a shortage in healthcare staff for many years, a challenge the pandemic has once again shone a spotlight on. Of 1,500 specialists in total, around half are nearing retirement age.
The Association of Luxembourg Medical Students (Alem) has registered the responses of 230 survey participants. The motivation to return to the country has seen a steady decline as students progress through their medical studies. Two years into their education 95% say they would return home. In the final two years only 70-75% would make that same choice.
Improving working conditions in neighbouring countries could be one reason why they are staying away, says Chris Speicher, Vice President of Alem.
Furthermore, the lack of a university teaching hospital results in a dearth of training opportunities. Speicher says a teaching hospital would offer doctors and trainees access to innovative systems, enabling them to practice medicine at the highest level.
As of 2020, Uni.lu offers a Bachelor in Medicine, but at least one year of this study must be completed abroad.
Alem President Julie Zangarini says this is inadequate: "It would be of immense help if one offered a complete study from start to finish in Luxembourg, so that people could stay in Luxembourg from the beginning onwards."
According to the Information and Documentation Centre for Higher Education (Cedies), around 1,000 Luxembourgers study medicine.
Association of Luxembourg Medical Students rings the alarm bells
