Médecins du Monde operates two drop-in centres in Luxembourg, providing essential medical services for people unable to afford it or ineligible for coverage through the National Health Fund (CNS). Dr. Bernard Thill explains that many of those seeking help are working people, unable to pay for medication or treatment – in some cases, even when they have health insurance.
While he explains that single mothers with children are especially affected, poverty in general is becoming an increasing problem in Luxembourg. With inflation and energy costs on the rise, and rent prices which he deems "partially immoral", he questioned how small families with children are supposed to make it work.
"It is truly alarming", Dr Thill stressed. "These are people who work, who have health insurance, who live like any other Luxembourg resident, and yet, at the end of the month, they cannot get by financially.”
The number of people turning to Médecins du Monde has been increasing every year. In 2025 alone, the organisation recorded nearly 1,200 consultations. The most common health problems were respiratory issues, orthopaedic conditions, and especially dental problems. Mental health problems are also an increasing concern among patients.
Those seeking help represented seventy-seven different nationalities, with many coming from Eastern Europe and North Africa. Most are migrants who arrive in Luxembourg seeking work but often have no rights or legal status. For those forced to work illegally, Médecins du Monde is sometimes the only place they can receive medical care.
Dr Thill warned of a "social downward spiral" in which unemployment or homelessness can lead to depression, despair, and ultimately addiction.
Poverty in Luxembourg, he explains, is not necessarily visible, often hidden behind a sense of shame. Those who seek help with Médecins du Monde's centers are unable to seek help elsewhere because of their legal status. Others are working illegally or unhoused.
He concludes: "There is no shame in poverty, but it's a shame to not take care of the poor."
Dr Thill also called for ongoing support for those living on the streets. While winter initiatives are important, he stressed that protection from extreme heat is equally necessary during the summer months.
When it comes to support during winter, he criticised shelters for failing to adequately meet people’s needs, noting the lack of privacy and respect when as many as 40 people are housed together in a dormitory.
Dr Thill recalled several cases of young undocumented migrants, paid as little as three euros an hour for physical labour, and questions what kind of society would allow this to happen.
He also lamented that a homeless man died on Rue de Strasbourg in June, criticising how the incident was swept under the rug, "as if the life of that man on the street is worth less than anyone else’s".
He stressed that we are all human beings, even if some are luckier than others, adding that it is unacceptable for society to turn a blind eye and pretend nothing happened.
Dr Thill identified housing as another important lever in fighting poverty. He argued that the state and municipalities must build more affordable housing instead of leaving the market largely to private developers. He pointed out that many flats remain empty because rents are unaffordable for most people.
Since 2022, Luxembourg has had a universal health care coverage scheme (CUSS). Last year, however, only 38 people benefited from it, even though Médecins du Monde alone provided consultations to more than 1,200 individuals.
Dr Thill explained that administrative hurdles remain too high. Applicants must have valid identity documents and be able to prove continuous residence in Luxembourg for a certain period having to show up once a month to prove they really live in Luxembourg.
Applicants must additionally present a "life project" outlining their aims in the country. Dr Thill emphasises that these requirements create barriers that are extremely difficult to overcome for people living on the streets, who often have no rights or resources and can lose their sense of direction and stability.
