European Patients' Rights Day: 'Patients' rights and obligations at the heart of joint reflection by healthcare system stakeholders!'

Knowledge of mutual rights and obligations is essential for everyone!

The law of 24 July 2014 on patients' rights and obligations

18 April is European Patients' Rights Day. First and foremost, it's an opportunity to remind everyone that every patient has a number of rights in Luxembourg set out in the amended law of 24 July 2014 on patients' rights and obligations. In 2024, this law will celebrate its tenth anniversary.

In conjunction with the principles of solidarity and fair access to care, patients' rights and obligations are at the heart of our healthcare system. The main rights of patients are:

• Equal access to quality healthcare;
• Free choice of the healthcare provider;
• The right to be assisted by a carer;
• The patients' right to information regarding their state of health;
• The right to accept, refuse and decide jointly with the service provider on the treatment to be provided;
• The right to a patient file and to access it;
• The right to confidentiality and professional secrecy;
• The right to appoint a person of trust;
• The right to express personal views on one's health care in advance in an anticipated directive or end-of-life provision;
• The right to lodge a complaint and the right to contact the Health Ombudsman.

In addition to these rights, patients have obligations, in particular the obligation to participate in the provision of healthcare through transparent collaboration and fair information from the healthcare provider, as well as the general obligation to respect the rights of healthcare providers and other patients. More information is available on the Health Ombudsman's website: www.mediateursante.lu.

Commonly known rights and obligations

The first right of both patients and healthcare professionals is to know their rights. Ten years after the law on patients' rights and obligations was passed, we can be pleased to see that, according to a recent survey carried out in hospitals, patients' rights and obligations are generally known. More details of this survey, carried out in 2023 by the Fédération des hôpitaux luxembourgeois (FHL) and its members, can be found here: www.droitsdupatient.lu. In 2024, thanks to the commitment of the COPAS Federation and its members, this survey will be completed in the home help and care sector, accommodation facilities for the elderly and facilities and services for people with disabilities.

If the results of the FHL survey are encouraging, the theme of patients' rights and obligations will remain on the agenda for 2024 and beyond.

A rich programme throughout 2024!

Save the date: 11 & 12 December 2024, European Convention Center Luxembourg.

11 December 2024: celebration of the tenth anniversary of the law on patients' rights and obligations

The Ministry of Health and Social Security, the Cercle des associations de patients (CAPAT), the Fédération des hôpitaux luxembourgeois (FHL), the Fédération COPAS and the Service du médiateur de la santé are delighted that the tenth anniversary of the law of 24 July 2014 on patients' rights and obligations will be celebrated on the afternoon of 11 December 2024, ahead of the National Partner Patient Day. As part of a conference-debate to be held at the European Convention Center, a review of the current situation and the outlook will be discussed.

12 December 2024: 3rd National Patient Partner Day

The discussion between players in the healthcare system will continue on the following day, 12 December. Under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and Social Security, the FHL and CAPAT invite you to the 3rd National Patient Partner Day (JNPP). The JNPP is a day of reflection and co-construction of the partnership between patients and providers, which is at the heart of the law on patients' rights and obligations.

The conference-debate on patients' rights and obligations on 11 December and the national patient-partner day on 12 December are aimed at patients and the general public, as well as health and care professionals. In addition to these flagship events, a number of other events are being organised in 2024 by the various players involved, to provide information on patients' rights and obligations and discuss this multi-faceted subject. www.droitsdupatient.lu.

Assessment of the law on patients' rights and obligations

The tenth anniversary of the 2014 law is a good time to take stock of the strengths and areas for improvement in our law. The Health Ombudsman Service will therefore be launching a wide-ranging consultation with the Ministry of Health and Social Security in 2024 (patients, providers and experts) in order to gather the views of everyone on our legal framework in the light of its practice and changes in our society. These discussions will be taken further in 2025, so that we can then consider adapting and modernising our legislative framework if necessary.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and Social Security / Cercle des associations de patients (CAPAT) / Fédération des hôpitaux luxembourgeois (FHL) / Fédération COPAS / Service du médiateur de la santé

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