Luxembourg Information
Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 17
Home Country: luxembourg
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 Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:27 am Post subject: HEALTHCARE IN LUXEMBOURG |
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HEALTHCARE IN LUXEMBOURG
Hospitals & Clinics
Hospitals are identified by the international sign of a white H on a blue background. Local hospitals will be listed in the Yellow Pages, but it may be better to ask your GP, chemist or the English-language clubs and other resources in the area, as they will be able to tell you which hospitals have emergency services and how they function. There are special hospitals or hospital sections for children, and it’s usually possible for parents to stay overnight with a child.
Hospital care is generally very good in Luxembourg, although practices may differ from those in your home country. In most cases, hospitalisation must be arranged by your GP and there may be a waiting list for certain non-emergency treatments and services. When going to a hospital, you should take your own pyjamas, robe and slippers, as well as personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), towels and flannels. (If you’re admitted in an emergency, you should ask a friend or family member to bring you these items.) You’ll also need a small amount of money to pay for telephone calls, television programmes and, in some cases, bottled water and other items offered by private services within the hospital.
There are no private hospitals in the Duchy. All hospitals are run by the state Caisse de Maladie, and all non-emergency hospital admissions must be arranged by your doctor. There are three classes of service, called first, second and third class. First class means you have a private room and you must usually pay part of the extra cost unless you have premium (i.e. very expensive) private health insurance. Second class, normally a shared room with two or three patients, is the standard service and is covered under most insurance plans in Luxembourg. Third class service consists of a ward, usually containing more than three patients, and is provided only under certain circumstances.
Drugs & Medicines
The selling of drugs and medicines of all kinds is strictly regulated in Luxembourg, whether you want over-the-counter remedies or need a prescription filled.
A chemist or pharmacy is often the only place you can buy most kinds of medicines and health care products, including vitamins, contact lens solutions, cold remedies and even aspirin, although this is (slowly) changing. You may also be required to describe your symptoms before you’ll be sold these items. Note that, if you purchase non-prescription drugs from a chemist, you’ll pay full price, whereas if your doctor prescribes the same products (even aspirin), your health care insurer will usually reimburse at least a part of the cost.
In many ways, pharmacists have greater responsibility for your health and safety than your doctor in Luxembourg. If you’re made ill (or worse) by taking a combination of medicines purchased from a chemist, the pharmacist can be held responsible for selling you the conflicting potions, even if they were prescribed by your doctor! Doctors cannot phone prescriptions in to a chemist, but pharmacists can process changes to prescriptions based on a telephone conversation with a doctor.
Both prescription and non-prescription items are sold in their original packaging, and the pharmacist normally writes the instructions for using or taking medicines on the box, so don’t throw it away until you’ve finished taking the medicine. (It’s sensible to keep the box even after you’ve finished the medicine, so that you can show it to a doctor or pharmacist if you need more of the same.) Most pharmacists speak at least some English and should explain to you exactly what a medicine is, how to take it, and any side effects to expect or watch out for.
Chemists are identified by a large green cross sign, often illuminated. Shops are generally small and carry only a limited selection of non-medical products, usually health and beauty care items. Chemists are generally open during normal shopping hours and in some areas only Mondays to Fridays. Outside these hours, one chemist in a town or region will be on duty and other chemists must display the name and address of the nearest duty chemist whenever they’re closed. Local newspapers publish a list of duty chemists at least once a week and, in an emergency, the medical emergency services (can direct you to a duty chemist at any time of the day or night. There may be a surcharge for medicines you obtain out of hours or from a chemist other than your designated one, and usually only private insurers will reimburse this additional cost.
Emergencies
The medical emergency phone number in Luxembourg is 112.
You should describe the situation and your location carefully and answer any questions the operator asks you. Don’t hang up until the emergency operator says that the call is complete. It’s important that he understands the situation so that the proper emergency services are dispatched.
Not all hospitals in Luxembourg have emergency services, and out of hours coverage is rotated among the hospitals in the area. Only the duty hospital can provide emergency services, so you need to know which it is. The duty schedule is published in newspapers and often posted in pharmacies and doctors’ surgeries as well as at hospitals. The cost of ambulance services is reclaimable under most health insurance plans, but check your policy for specific conditions or limitations. If the emergency isn’t life-threatening, you should try contacting your doctor first.
If you need a doctor outside normal office hours, you should first try contacting your regular doctor, either at home or through his answering service. (Keep the number near your telephone.) It’s sensible to ask your doctor early on how emergencies (cas d’urgence/spoedgeval) should be handled, as some medical systems and insurers insist on doctor authorisation for emergency services such as ambulances and hospital admissions in all except life-threatening situations. Not all hospitals have emergency facilities, and even those that do may not be open all the time. It’s obviously best to check these things before you actually need them.
Most emergency operators can speak English, although not necessarily fluently. In an emergency, no matter what language you’re using, try to remember to speak slowly and distinctly, giving the operator all the information needed, such as your exact location and what assistance is needed. It’s wise to practise giving your name, phone number and address and spelling critical details (like your street name) in the local language so as to avoid confusion – especially over the phone.
If you suffer from a condition that may need emergency treatment, you should carry a written description of the condition, the medicines you’re taking, including doses, and any other relevant details. This can be in English or the local language and will save you considerable time (and possibly your life) if a medical emergency strikes and you’re unable to speak for yourself.
Directory of Hospitals & Clinics
Centre Hospitalier de Lorraine
Cliniques du Sud-Luxembourg (CSL)
Rue de Harnoncourt 48
Virton-St-Mard 6762
Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 63 58 81 11
Fax: + 352 63 58 81 22
Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg
Rue Barble 4
Luxembourg-Ville 1210
Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 458762
Clinique Belle-Vue
Cliniques du Sud-Luxembourg (CSL)
Avenue de la Liberation 39
Athus 6791
Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 63 37 20 11
Fax: + 352 63 37 20 79
Clinique St. Joseph
Cliniques du Sud-Luxembourg (CSL)
Rue des Deportes 137
Arlon 6700
Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 63 23 11 11
Fax: + 352 63 23 17 15
Clinique Ste. Therese
36 Rue Zithe
Luxembourg L-2763
Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 49 77 64 821
Fax: + 352 49 77 65 930
Hopital de la Ville d'Esch-sur-Alzette
Emile Mayrisch Street
BP 436
Esch-sur-Alzette 4005
Luxembourg
Tel: + 352 5711 27319 |
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