In 2021, the number of people requesting assistance from Doctors of the World almost doubled compared to previous years. The organisation’s most recent report conveys that last year, volunteers helped provide 3,067 consultations to 1,391 people in Luxembourg.
The report further highlights difficulties that workers had to face in relation to the the pandemic. The logistical aspects of the vaccination campaign, for instance, have shown that there are many people in the Grand Duchy who live in precarious social situations that make access to medical care more difficult.
The 1,391 patients treated by MdM doctors all share a similar social profile: they are below the poverty threshold, live in temporary housing, and don’t have health insurance. Furthermore, the lack of access to regular medical care has lead to long-lasting and at times irreversible health issues.
The MdM report also reveals that the amount of specialised care has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with a total of 864 consultations given. Thanks to the organisation’s efforts, 750 people were given access to a Covid-19 vaccine at one of the centres in the country, while about 600 were directly inoculated by an MdM doctor.
2021 also saw the opening of a guard duty dedicated to women and children, as well as a sleeping offer for homeless people who are severely ill in Weiler-la-Tour. The organisation further welcomes the government’s decision to create a Universal Health Care Coverage (CUSS), which should help make medical care more accessible for everyone.
