The opposition has criticised the new healthcare reform

On Tuesday, a new bill aimed at raising the status of the healthcare professions came under fierce criticism in the Luxembourg Parliament. Representatives of opposition parties described the initiative as a missed opportunity for genuine reform of the nursing profession, calling the bill merely a stopgap measure drafted in haste. Earlier, the Luxembourg Nurses’ Association (ANIL) and the Chamber of Employees had also issued strongly negative opinions on the proposed legislation.

During the discussions, LSAP MP Mars Di Bartolomeo highlighted the need to clearly define and expand the responsibilities of nurses. He said that qualified professionals should be allowed to carry out, to the full extent, the work for which they have been trained, as any artificial restrictions lead to an unjustified waste of skills and resources.

This position was supported by Marc Baum, a representative of the Left Party (déi Lénk). He emphasised that healthcare workers, who are operating in conditions of chronic staff shortages, must be granted the genuine autonomy that is required in practice. Granting nurses the right to carry out certain procedures without unnecessary administrative barriers, according to the politician, will significantly reduce the overall workload on doctors and ensure that patients receive faster and more effective care.

In response to the criticisms, Health Minister Martine Deprez spoke out in defence of the bill. She stated that the new law goes beyond mere technical amendments and establishes a modern, precise legal framework for the entire sector. According to the minister, the bill is intended to enshrine official recognition of the clinical role of nurses, clarify their areas of responsibility in detail, strengthen coordination between different specialists and guarantee greater legal certainty for healthcare staff.