The inauguration of the long-awaited radiology centre on Cloche d'Or will most likely be delayed even further. The plans for the centre had been rejected in a first phase by former Minister of Health Lydia Mutsch. The affected doctors filed a complaint against this decision, which was ultimately upheld by the courts.
The required authorisations for MRI machines and other scanners have already been issued by the Ministry. According to radiologist Dr Renzo del Fabbro, the machines had also already been selected in autumn 2020, but now the funding has become a problem. Dr del Fabbro explains that the authorisations are only valid until October, which means that if an agreement cannot be reached until then, they will have to start all over again. The radiologist states that if that happens, he will no longer be involved in the project as it had simply been "too much work" already. Dr del Fabbro states that he also feels they no longer have an interlocutor, only speaking with civil servants but "to no avail".
A number of Dr del Fabbro's colleagues had already abandoned the project because progress has been so slow.
The main problem is that outpatient structures still have no legal basis in Luxembourg. Last year, the Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD) made a proposal to adapt the nomenclature accordingly. The document was forwarded to the National Health Fund (CNS), and the General Inspectorate of Social Security, the Nomenclature Commission, and the Ministry of Health have also been informed.
For AMMD President Dr Alain Schmit, it is a political issue that "must be resolved". Discussions are needed but simply not taking place at the moment.
The National Health Directorate points out that the AMMD has not submitted an official request so far, to which Dr Schmit reiterated his demand that the political issue must be resolved first.
Regarding the plans of Dr del Fabbro, the question of the funding must be discussed as soon as possible, with Dr Schmit urging the government to pick up the negotiations.
In its written reply, the National Health Directorate also acknowledged that there are indeed no regulations for heavy equipment outside of hospitals, an aspect which is to be included in the new National Health Plan.
In this context, discussions with all affected actors are planned as well as two debates in the Chamber of Deputies. As soon as all of these discussions are concluded, the National Health Plan will be presented and the organisation of the heavy equipment in question will then be assessed in that legal context, according to the National Health Directorate.
