Review of the Luxembourg Health System (HiT) – French and English versions available

National Health Observatory, in collaboration with the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, is pleased to announce the publication of the French version of the 2024 review of the Luxembourg health system, released as part of the international Health Systems in Transition (HiT) series.

The Health Systems in Transition (HiT) series describes the organisation, functioning, and recent reforms of health systems in the countries of the WHO European Region. These analyses – conducted by national experts (ObSanté team for Luxembourg, with support from other national specialists) in collaboration with the teams of the European Observatory – follow a standardised model. This framework ensures meaningful comparisons between countries’ health systems and constitutes a key reference for public decision-makers and health system stakeholders.

The French version has been produced by the National Health Observatory on the basis of the original English-language review, with the aim of facilitating reading and dissemination among the general public, health professionals, and national institutional actors.

Key topics addressed in the publication:

• Organisation and governance
• Health system financing
• Physical and human resources
• Provision of services (patient pathways, organisation and provision of services)
• Principal health reforms implemented and future development perspectives
• Overall assessment of the health system, including governance, accessibility, financial protection, service quality, care integration, health outcomes, and efficiency.

An essential document for understanding and action

The publication "Luxembourg: Health System Review" provides an in-depth analysis of recent or planned structures, reforms, and policies, while highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the national health system. While Luxembourg benefits from a compulsory health insurance system offering a wide range of services to a large share of the population, barriers remain for vulnerable groups, in particular due to administrative constraints and financial considerations.

The Luxembourg health system has several strengths but also faces major challenges. It shows good overall health outcomes, yet factors such as socio-economic disparities and risky health behaviours remain a concern. Moreover, while the centralisation of health infrastructure ensures good coverage, the system's strong reliance on a workforce trained abroad raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of the service offer and the quality of complex care.

The merger of ministries to form the Ministry of Health and Social Security (M3S) represents progress towards greater coherence in the planning and financing of care. However, despite significant investments, further efforts are needed to strengthen health promotion and prevention, improve efficiency, and optimise budget allocation.

Practical information:

The publication is now available: link

Printed copies are available upon request: info@obs.etat.lu

Other documents in this series:

English version: link

Summary in French: link

Summary in English: link

Press release by the National Health Observatory