A New Step Forward for Ambulatory Care in Luxembourg

Martine Deprez, Minister of Health and Social Security, today presented a draft bill amending 1) the Social Security Code 2) and the amended Law of 8 March 2018 on hospitals and hospital planning.

The draft bill implements the 2023–2028 Coalition Agreement, which provides that the Government will seek to make full use of the potential of ambulatory care and significantly strengthen its role within the healthcare system.

The implementation of this policy objective follows a gradual approach. Following an initial phase focused, among other measures, on the development of decentralised hospital satellite facilities for certain minor procedures, the draft bill presented today marks a further step towards a broader strategy for the development of ambulatory care.

Its objective is to adapt the legal framework to the evolving realities of today's healthcare system, characterised in particular by the growing shift towards ambulatory care.

A Legal Framework for Ambulatory Care Facilities

The draft bill extends the scope of the Hospital Law to include ambulatory care facilities.

These facilities are separate from hospitals and may be operated, in particular, by medical associations or companies established by medical practitioners. They will provide ambulatory healthcare services across a range of fields, including dialysis, non-surgical day care, oncology, as well as certain minor procedures in ophthalmology, dermatology, abdominal wall and proctological surgery, and urology.

"With this draft bill, we aim to make better use of the potential of ambulatory care within our healthcare system. Our objective is clear: to bring care closer to patients, speed up access to treatment, make the healthcare system more efficient and enhance the attractiveness of medical practice for healthcare professionals," said Martine Deprez, Minister of Health and Social Security.

Quality, Safety and Continuity of Care

The introduction of these facilities will be subject to a prior authorisation scheme. Each ambulatory care facility will be required to obtain an operating licence issued by the competent minister on the basis of an operating plan and a compliance dossier.

To ensure continuity and safety of care, each facility will also be required to enter into an agreement with a hospital. This agreement will govern, in particular, patient referral and transfer procedures, as well as access to hospital resources.

Ambulatory care facilities will furthermore be integrated into the national healthcare planning framework in order to ensure a comprehensive overview of healthcare provision and the optimal allocation of resources across the country.

Financial and Organisational Support

The draft bill provides that ambulatory care facilities may, subject to certain conditions, benefit from State support for investment costs or infrastructure rental costs. Flat-rate funding arrangements will also be extended to these new facilities in order to cover their operating costs.

Other Measures Included in the Draft Bill

In addition to the development of ambulatory care, the draft bill provides for the establishment of new centres of expertise aimed at improving the management of complex conditions requiring a multidisciplinary and coordinated approach, including long COVID, endometriosis, myalgic encephalomyelitis, menopause-related conditions, and neurodevelopmental disorders in children and young people.

The draft bill also clarifies that every hospital must have the necessary expertise in infectious diseases and infection prevention and control, including through the designation of a specialist in infectious diseases.

Overall, the draft bill seeks to modernise and strengthen the legal framework governing Luxembourg's healthcare system while ensuring a high standard of quality, safety and accessibility of care for patients.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and Social Security