Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 112 for all emergencies. CGDIS provides ambulance and rescue. CHL (Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg) is the main ER in Luxembourg City. Operators speak French, German, Luxembourgish, and English. Air rescue (LAR — Luxembourg Air Rescue) available for serious cases.
Response time: 8-12 minutes nationally. Country is so small that response times are consistently fast.
Cost: ER (urgences): €35-80 with EHIC/CNS (reimbursable). Uninsured: €150-500+. Ambulance: free (CGDIS — Corps Grand-Ducal d'Incendie et de Secours). Hospital admission: €25-30/day co-pay for insured; €300-800+/day uninsured.
Healthcare System
Luxembourg has one of Europe's best-funded healthcare systems, spending more per capita than almost any EU country. The CNS (Caisse Nationale de Santé) provides universal coverage with generous reimbursement (typically 80-100% of costs). The system operates on a tiers payant principle — patients pay upfront, then claim reimbursement, though many providers offer direct billing (tiers payant social). Luxembourg has four hospitals: Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL — the largest, in Luxembourg City), Hôpitaux Robert Schuman (HRS — two sites), Centre Hospitalier Émile Mayrisch (CHEM — in Esch-sur-Alzette), and Centre Hospitalier du Nord (CHdN — in Ettelbruck). All are modern and well-equipped. The country is tiny (2,586 km²) — no point is more than 30 minutes from a hospital. French is the dominant medical language, but English is widely understood. Unique feature: Luxembourg's population is ~48% foreign-born, making it Europe's most cosmopolitan healthcare environment — staff are accustomed to multilingual patients.
Designed for: All residents and cross-border workers (180,000+ daily commuters from France, Belgium, Germany). EU/EEA visitors via EHIC. Non-EU visitors need insurance.
GP Access & Costs
Free choice of GP (médecin généraliste). No gatekeeping — patients can go directly to specialists. Walk-in and appointment-based. EHIC accepted. Maison Médicale (out-of-hours GP service) operates evenings, nights, weekends.
Typical wait: Same-day to 2 days for GP. Specialist: 1-4 weeks. Maison Médicale: 1-2 hour wait.
Availability: Good across the country. Luxembourg City has highest concentration. Maison Médicale (out-of-hours): Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette.
GP Visit
GP consultation: €40-55 (CNS reimburses ~88%)
Private GP
€40-55 per consultation (most reimbursed by CNS)
ER Without Insurance
€150-500+ per ER visit
Medication
CNS reimburses most prescription costs. Pharmacies (pharmacies) well-stocked. Some OTC medications cheaper than neighbouring countries.
Health insurance is strongly recommended
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6:30pm, Sat 8am-12:30pm. Pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy) system ensures 24/7 access — check pharmacie.lu for current listings.
OTC: Standard European range. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines available without prescription.
Controlled substances: Schengen attestation required for EU travellers with controlled medications. Standard EU regulations apply.
Practical Tips
- CHL (Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg) is the main hospital — Route d'Arlon, Luxembourg City
- Maison Médicale for evenings/weekends/holidays — much faster than ER for non-emergencies
- EHIC gives excellent coverage — Luxembourg reimburses at high rates
- Check pharmacie.lu for duty pharmacy locations
- French medical vocabulary helpful but English widely understood
- Keep all medical receipts for CNS reimbursement claims
Who can get care in Luxembourg?
Emergency care for anyone
Emergency departments in Luxembourg treat everyone regardless of residency or insurance status. Charges can still apply afterwards.
Public system for visitors
Visitors get partial public cover — usually emergencies only, with routine care paid privately.
Seeing a Doctor as a visitor
Free choice of GP (médecin généraliste). No gatekeeping — patients can go directly to specialists. Walk-in and appointment-based. EHIC accepted. Maison Médicale (out-of-hours GP service) operates evenings, nights, weekends. Typical cost: GP consultation: €40-55 (CNS reimburses ~88%). EHIC: same rates as residents. Specialist: €50-100 (high reimbursement). Uninsured: full price. Dental: €40-80 for check-up. Typical wait: Same-day to 2 days for GP. Specialist: 1-4 weeks. Maison Médicale: 1-2 hour wait.
Insurance needed for entry or visa
It depends on nationality and visa route — several routes require proof of medical cover.
Documents worth having ready
- EHIC/GHIC (EU/UK citizens)
- Passport/ID
- Travel insurance (non-EU visitors)
- Prescriptions for medications
- Schengen attestation for controlled medications
Local contacts in Luxembourg
Emergency services
112 (European standard) / 113 (police)
Call 112 for all emergencies. CGDIS provides ambulance and rescue. CHL (Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg) is the main ER in Luxembourg City. Operators speak French, German, Luxembourgish, and English. Air rescue (LAR — Luxembourg Air Rescue) available for serious cases.
Pharmacies
Mon-Fri 8am-6:30pm, Sat 8am-12:30pm. Pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy) system ensures 24/7 access — check pharmacie.lu for current listings.
Standard European range. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines available without prescription.
What is the emergency number in Luxembourg?
112 (European standard) or 113 (police) in Luxembourg. Call 112 for all emergencies. CGDIS provides ambulance and rescue. CHL (Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg) is the main ER in Luxembourg City. Operators speak French, German, Luxembourgish, and English. Air rescue (LAR — Luxembourg Air Rescue) available for serious cases.
How much does a Doctor visit cost in Luxembourg?
GP consultation: €40-55 (CNS reimburses ~88%). EHIC: same rates as residents. Specialist: €50-100 (high reimbursement). Uninsured: full price. Dental: €40-80 for check-up. Private consultations: €40-55 per consultation (most reimbursed by CNS).
Join the waitlist to see 4 more FAQs
Sources: CNS (Caisse Nationale de Santé), Luxembourg Ministry of Health, WHO Luxembourg, European Commission EHIC
Last reviewed: March 2026 by ViscaCare
Further Reading
Healthcare in United Kingdom
Emergency numbers, Doctor costs and visitor access in United Kingdom.
Read guideHealthcare in Ireland
Emergency numbers, Doctor costs and visitor access in Ireland.
Read guideHealthcare in Germany
Emergency numbers, Doctor costs and visitor access in Germany.
Read guide