2024-04-10 18:02:22
In the near future, Luxembourg residents will have nine more pharmacies at their disposal. Two of them, in Lac de la Haute-Sûre and Niederanven, have already had the green light from the Government, but are not yet open to the public, while the creation of the other seven is being discussed between the respective communes and the Executive.
The information was released by the Minister of Health in response to a parliamentary question from deputies Jeff Engelen and Alexandra Schoos (ADR). In the document, Martine Deprez (CSV) also recognized that Luxembourg currently has an insufficient number of pharmacies to keep up with the population.
“Taking into account the country’s demographic growth [660 mil habitantes em 2023, mais 147 mil do que em 2011] and, based on health management calculations, there should be 121 pharmacies in the country”, revealed the government official.
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Currently, only 102 are open to the public, which becomes even more challenging considering the approximately 228,000 cross-border workers who come to Luxembourg daily and may need medication.
Cantons of Luxembourg and Esch with a lack of pharmacies
Looking at the data presented by the minister, it is in the canton of Luxembourg, which includes the capital and surrounding areas, that there is a lack of more pharmacies. In this territory, there are only 31 of these establishments, but there should be 41. Luxembourg City should have six more pharmacies. The canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which covers the second, third and fourth largest municipalities in the country, lacks five pharmacies.
What does the government do when there is a shortage of medicines?
According to Luxembourg law, a municipality is entitled to a pharmacy when it has a population of more than 2,500 inhabitants for two consecutive years. To open more of these units, the population must grow at intervals of 5 thousand inhabitants, that is, a commune could have a second pharmacy after reaching 7,500 residents, a third after 12,500, etc.
In addition to this, the “medical density” criterion is taken into account, which evaluates the number of doctors in relation to the population. The objective is to avoid duplication of pharmacies or pharmaceutical deserts, ensuring the distribution of these establishments throughout the territory. According to the Government, the creation of a pharmacy is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
2024-04-10 18:02:22