Dr Chris Roller, president of the Luxembourg Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD) has voiced strong criticism of both the government and the National Health Fund (CNS), saying doctors can no longer accept an agreement that does not reflect reality or address their concerns. According to Dr Roller, the main problem is that doctors, as a liberal profession, are now tightly controlled by the CNS, which sets not only what they may do, but where, how, and at what price, regardless of real costs.
CNS dictates to doctors what they can do, where they can do it, how they can do it, and at what fee, and "these fees often have nothing to do with actual costs", he explained. He also stated that despite years of promises for health policy reform from the government, these have not been fulfilled.
As a result, the AMMD decided to terminate the existing conventions after many years, as the government and CNS have shown little real willingness to create a better agreement for doctors and ultimately for patients. Instead, he claimed, the Health Minister, Martine Deprez, is continuing to favour hospitals, which he described as expensive and often responsible for long waiting times.
The Tour De Luxembourg kicks off today and as well as a great sporting spectacle, you need to know about the traffic disruptions!
Union representatives argued that, despite the enormous financial success of these companies, staff cuts have become commonplace, employees are exposed to constant pressure, and breaches of labour law occur far too often. Angélique Lazzara, Secretary at the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL), noted that these profits are repeatedly celebrated as new records year after year, even as working conditions deteriorate.
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