The availability of medicines in general

Medicines in Luxembourg can fall under one of four different reimbursement systems:

• Normal reimbursement of medicines amounts to 80% of their cost,
• Preferential reimbursement is 100%,
• Reduced reimbursement is 40% and
• Certain medicines are not reimbursed.[1]

The availability of Alzheimer treatments

In Luxembourg, all anti-dementia drugs are available and are part of the normal reimbursement system (80%). Reimbursement is nevertheless dependent on prior approval by the medical control unit of the social security ministry. Any doctor can fill in this application for reimbursement, but specific information needs to be provided to see whether a patient fulfils the DSM IV definition of Alzheimer’s disease. In practice, most applications are filled in by neurologists or psychiatrists. A reimbursement decision is made for six months only, after which a follow-up examination is necessary and treatment continuation is possible.

Treatment with acetylcholintesterase inhibitors is for people with MMSE scores between 26 and 10 and memantine for MMSE scores below 15.

There are no restrictions in Luxembourg for the reimbursement of these treatments for people living alone or in nursing homes.

[1] European Commission (2006): MISSOC – Mutual information system on social protection : Social protection in the Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area and in Switzerland : Comparative tables