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Health Minister Martine Deprez said Luxembourg's health insurance system will become increasingly expensive as the population ages.

Speaking to RTL on Thursday morning, Health Minister Martine Deprez said Luxembourg's healthcare system must become more efficient as the CNS faces a growing deficit, long-term pressure from an ageing population, and slower employment growth.

"Let's not kid ourselves: our system will not become less expensive", Health Minister Martine Deprez said on RTL on Thursday morning. She stressed that Luxembourg must avoid a two-tier healthcare system, but said the system had to become more efficient. For the past two years, the financial deficit of the National Health Fund (CNS), has been growing. This year, the deficit is expected to reach around €130 million, while reserves could fall below the legal threshold of 10% of total expenditure next year.

At Wednesday's quadripartite meeting, several possible measures were discussed, representing around €95 million. Deprez insisted that these were not austerity measures, but measures aimed at reducing expenditure.
According to the minister, the aim is to make the system more efficient without worsening conditions for insured people. In the case of medicines, she said this could involve dispensing individual doses, using blister packs, avoiding the automatic distribution of full boxes, or prioritising less expensive medicines where medically appropriate.

Also today

• Defence lawyers urged acquittal for four police officers accused of assaulting a detainee at Luxembourg-Gare police station.
• Luxembourg employees are able to access a little known service called 'Stressberodung', a free psychological support provision.
• A serious road accident occurred on Wednesday night between Bertrange and Mamer, leaving the driver in critical condition.
• The US is currently waiting for Iran to respond to its latest proposed deal to end the war in the Middle East and reopen the key shipping lane out of the Gulf.
• Another sick passenger from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship has landed in Europe today, as the vessel headed to Tenerife.
• UK polling stations have opened today for local elections which opinion polls predict could have grim results for Labour.
• The US State Department has underlined its "strong relationship" with the Vatican after talks between Marco Rubio and Pope Leo

On air

Ticket giveaway today to see Luexembourg's very own Tali (Eurovision entry in 2024) live at the Rockhal tomorrow. Just tell us what song she sang in the competition!

Figure of the day

The new CHL building is set to open by late 2029, with costs exceeding €1 billion

• Currently one of the country's largest construction projects, with 300 workers on site every day across nine companies, the eight-story facility will house expanded services, including psychiatry and palliative care
• Despite population growth necessitating 68 additional beds, the project remains on budget.

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