Luxembourg doctors, dentists criticise hospital staff pay rise

The association representing Luxembourg’s doctors and dentists has hit out at a recent staff agreement which will see salary increases for hospital employees, describing the deal as one which will offer “nothing to patients” and place further strain on an already stretched health budget.

The Luxembourg Association of Doctors and Dentists (AMMD) said in a statement it was “astonished” by the terms of the agreement, which involve salary increases and the awarding of bonuses to be applied retroactively, and has convened an extraordinary general meeting after the summer holidays in response.

The measures, according to the association, represent a high cost for hospitals and the health system, and “bring nothing to patients.”

The deal was part of the renewal of the collective agreement for hospital staff, and was negotiated with the OGBL and LCGB trade unions, as well as the Federation of Luxembourg Hospitals.

The AMMD said the process had revealed “serious conflicts of interest” within the National Health Fund (CNS), as the unions that approved the deal hold seats on the board of directors through the Chamber of Employees.

The CNS has a “structural deficit” and such financial largesse is “unsustainable”, the AMMD said in its statement.

The association argued there has been a lack of transparency on future negotiations regarding the medical and dental professions, and has announced the convening of an extraordinary general meeting for the fall to consult its members on next steps and possible actions.

The AMMD has called on the government to review the CNS’s functioning, financing and governance, a commitment made in the current coalition agreement, to ensure a fair balance among all stakeholders in the healthcare system.

(This article was originally published by Contacto. Machine translated, with editing and adaptation by John Monaghan.)