Characteristics

The low personal contribution to medical costs is proof that solidarity is one of the distinctive signs of a system also characterised by:

• nearly universal coverage by compulsory public health insurance (98% - source: OECD Health Data report 2011),
• free choice and general access to hospitals and medical specialists,
• free establishment of health professionals after authorisation by the Minister of Health. Medical professionals are under contract with the public health insurance funds and there is no private health sector as such,
• uniform legislation and regulation result in equal treatment for all providers regardless of their status,
• regulation of end-of-life dispositions by recent legislation on palliative care and euthanasia.

Over the last couple of years, international performance comparisons have regularly ranked the Luxembourgish health system among the best and most generous, but also as one of the most expensive per capita, ranging 5th in the OECD Health Data report 2011.

Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies

The system remains quite hospital-centric; 5 general hospitals and 5 specialised hospitals (2 for acute care and 3 for reeducation) remain after a number of fusions undertaken during the last decade and guarantee a quasi complete medical coverage under the national hospital plan.

The emergency number 112 is the number to call for emergencies as well as for information on duty clinics and pharmacies.

For medical emergencies requiring hospitalization, the 5 general hospitals take turns in assuring a 24/7 emergency service.

For smaller emergencies not requiring hospitalization, the so-called Maisons médicales (Clinics) have GPs on duty.

Furthermore, the pharmacies assure regional emergency services outside of the standard opening hours.

Facts and figures

• 98% of the population are covered by compulsory public health insurance,
• 18% of the residents are younger than 15 years,
• 14% are older than 65 years,
• 59.4% have subscribed to a complementary mutual insurance,
• The health sector and social services account for 8.1% of total employment. There are 2.9 doctors, 11 nurses, 0.8 dentists, 0.7 pharmacists, 0.6 midwifes and 4.6 hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants,
• 74.5% of the adult inhabitants declare being in good health (2007) and in 2010, 96% declared in an enquiry of the Eurobarometer that they were satisfied with the life they had,
• Life expectancy is estimated at 82.2 years for women and 76.7 years for men,
• 5 general hospitals and 5 specialised hospitals are at the public’s disposal. Nearly all hospital and care infrastructures have been modernised in the last decade and are very well equipped,
• With 4,162 US $ per capita in 2006, health expenditure is one of the highest in the world, after the USA, Norway and Switzerland. As far as it is concerned, the state covers for more than 92% of medical treatment costs, so that the out-of-pocket contribution to the cost of medical treatments is among the lowest in the world.