The authorities are implementing healthcare reforms

Following lengthy negotiations, Luxembourg has approved a unified legal status for doctors undergoing specialist training (médecins en voie de spécialisation / MEVS). This decision will affect around 250 young specialists who completed their basic medical training abroad and are now completing their specialist training in clinics in the Grand Duchy. Representatives of the sector have been calling for clear rules for years, and the new measures are designed to ensure fairer working conditions and higher pay.

The issue of pay remained one of the most pressing, as junior doctors currently undertake a huge workload, including on-call duties, assisting in the operating theatre and monitoring patients’ conditions, yet their earnings do not reflect the level of responsibility involved. According to the Luxembourg Association of Trainee Doctors (ALMEVS), a young specialist’s salary in their first year of work is around €4,000 before tax, which is lower than the level of earnings in neighbouring Germany. Initially, the association insisted on salaries being aligned with the highest category (A1) of the state pay scale. Although this demand was not fully met, ALMEVS co-president Dr Lisa Zangarini confirmed that, under the terms of the agreement, basic pay will be slightly higher than in Germany.

Another key aspect of the reform is the introduction of working hour limits in line with European standards. At present, many trainees in Luxembourg’s hospitals work an average of 60 to 80 hours a week throughout the year. Industry experts stress that extreme workloads inevitably lead to chronic fatigue among doctors and, consequently, to medical errors that threaten patient safety. The new regulations aim to limit the working week to a maximum of 48 hours. However, the mechanisms for monitoring compliance with this limit are yet to be discussed in detail with the Luxembourg Hospital Federation (FHL) and the relevant ministries.

In addition to optimising on-call rosters, the agreement provides for the allocation of a fixed amount of time and a dedicated budget within the curriculum for research activities and professional development. The organisers hope that this will broaden career prospects for doctors within the country. Currently, around a third of Luxembourgish medical students choose not to return home after graduating from universities abroad. The healthcare system is facing a staff shortage in virtually all areas, but the situation is particularly critical in the general practice sector. By introducing a unified status, the government hopes to make the national labour market more attractive and address the shortage of medical staff.