Luxembourg laboratories are withdrawing from the agreement with the CNS

Following the Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD), representatives of the laboratory testing sector have also refused to renew their contract with the National Health Insurance Fund (CNS). The official decision by the Luxembourg Federation of Medical Analysis Laboratories (FLLAM) to terminate the current agreement was published in the Official Gazette on 17 July. This information was confirmed by the Minister for Health, Martine Deprez, in response to a parliamentary question.

At the same time, formal negotiations between FLLAM and CNS began on 27 July. The parties have exactly one year to agree on a new regulatory framework or to engage an independent mediator before the current agreement finally expires. At this stage, the institutional dispute will not affect patients: medical services continue to be provided in full, and costs are reimbursed to insured persons as usual.

Nevertheless, the overall situation in Luxembourg’s healthcare sector remains tense. Commenting on the deadlocked negotiations between the CNS and doctors, in which mediation efforts have already failed, Martine Deprez confirmed that the government has a contingency plan in place. The Cabinet has approved regulatory texts that will replace the collective agreement if no agreement is reached by October. In that case, the fees that medical professionals are entitled to charge will continue to be strictly regulated by the state tariff and a decree of the Grand Duke. According to the minister, the failure of conciliation proceedings with the medical community is due to the fact that the AMMD demanded guarantees from the insurer that fall within the exclusive remit of the government or parliament.