Press Release
International survey reveals strengths and challenges of Luxembourg’s healthcare system
A recent report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provides key information on healthcare in Luxembourg.
Based on the PaRIS (Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys), which gathered the perspectives of over 107,000 people aged 45 and over in 1,800 medical practices across 19 countries, the OECD study enables an international comparison of patients’ experience of care and their perception of health outcomes. It also analyzes how healthcare systems respond to the needs of people with chronic diseases.
Commissioned by the Direction de la Santé, the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) conducted the PaRIS survey in Luxembourg, gathering responses from 1,590 patients on their health, their care experience, and their socio-demographic characteristics. Data were also collected from 52 medical practices throughout the country.
A largely satisfactory quality of care
The results show that 72% of respondents report good physical health and 86% good mental health, figures slightly higher than the OECD international average (70 and 83%, respectively). The Luxembourg healthcare system also stands out for its perceived quality of care and patient-centered approach: 93% rate the quality of care as satisfactory and 91% feel that care is adapted to their needs, exceeding the OECD averages of 87% and 85%, respectively.
Room for improvement in understanding digital information and managing chronic diseases
Only 56% of respondents feel able to manage their own health, below the OECD average of 59%. Finding and understanding digital health information also remains a concern: only 11% of patients in Luxembourg feel confident in their ability to understand and use health information from digital sources, such as specialist websites or official platforms, a rate below the already relatively low OECD average of 19%.
Another major challenge highlighted in the report is the lack of healthcare coordination for patients with chronic illnesses, which can interrupt care continuity. Only 18% of patients in Luxembourg are cared for in practices that can exchange medical records electronically, a figure well below the OECD international average of 57%. Furthermore, only 18% of patients with two or more chronic conditions are cared for in practices where non-physician healthcare professionals play a role in chronic disease management, compared with the OECD average of 83%.
The study highlights the need for improvement in terms of digital health culture and the adoption of electronic medical record systems in primary care. Nevertheless, the Luxembourg healthcare system offers high-quality care to the majority of patients in several key areas, and must continue to develop person-centered care and greater patient involvement. In a context where healthcare systems are evolving on a global scale, the integration of patient perspectives is essential for adapting policies and practices.
For further information, access the PaRIS survey.
About the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH)
The Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) is a public biomedical research organisation focused on precision health and invested in becoming a leading reference in Europe for the translation of scientific excellence into meaningful benefits for patients.
The LIH places the patient at the heart of all its activities, driven by a collective obligation towards society to use knowledge and technology arising from research on patient derived data to have a direct impact on people’s health. Its dedicated teams of multidisciplinary researchers strive for excellence, generating relevant knowledge linked to immune related diseases and cancer.
The institute embraces collaborations, disruptive technology and process innovation as unique opportunities to improve the application of diagnostics and therapeutics with the long-term goal of preventing disease.