Strong bones: osteoporosis diagnosis will now be faster and easier
Ruliff Andrean Unsplash
By 2023, Luxembourg has taken a significant step in improving the diagnosis of osteoporosis: the number of densitometry devices has been increased from one to three. One of the main changes was the approval of the installation of the new device at the Centre Hospitalier du Nord (CHdN). The device is expected to be available to patients from January 2025, once all installation and set-up work has been completed.
Previously, it was thought that the country was using outdated machines dating back to 2000. However, it was found that the existing equipment at Hôpitaux Robert Schuman (HRS) was installed in 2013. Despite this, there are plans to replace it with more modern equipment that meets international standards.
Modern DXA machines provide a minimal radiation dose of only 0.01 mSv per examination, which meets strict radiation safety requirements.
The only DXA machine in Luxembourg is currently used much more intensively than the European average. This leads to accelerated equipment wear and tear and the need for regular infrastructure upgrades.
The problem is also the insufficient distribution of such devices across regions, which can make it difficult for people in rural areas to access services.
Further improvement of the system is needed to further improve the system:
- Expedite approval of new equipment installation requests.
- Prioritise replacing ageing instruments to improve diagnostic accuracy.
- Increase the availability of devices in remote areas to eliminate territorial disparities.
These changes will not only improve the quality of medical services, but will also strengthen Luxembourg's position in the field of modern diagnostics.
