Overview

Luxembourg has the highest per capita health spending in the WHO Europe Region and the highest share of patients seeking care abroad in the European Union (EU) in 2012. Major reforms in 2008 and 2010 aimed at cost-containment and increasing quality by establishing a single health insurance fund which includes maternity benefits and long-term care insurance. Furthermore, the strengthening of patients’ rights and the development of a national e-health infrastructure has only recently occurred as the latter is only in its pilot stage and is not fully developed. This article gives an overview of this relatively little known health system in light of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU.