Certain doctors in Luxembourg are now permitted to prescribe exercise to patients, as part of a pilot project which will run in 2026.
Some 73 doctors have already received training as part of the project which will begin at the start of January, Health Minister Martine Deprez said earlier this week in response to a parliamentary question.
Patients “will receive a prescription for physical activity from their doctor that is tailored to their illness and physical activity level,” Deprez said.
The doctor will refer the patient to Luxembourg’s sport and health federation (FLASS) who will then forward them to a member association – such as the Luxembourg Association for Diabetes or the Luxembourg Association of Oncology Sport Groups – who will work with the patient.
These different sports and health associations provide exercise programmes to people with different medical needs. The pilot project will initially target patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, cancer or diabetes, provided their condition is good enough to exercise.
Before expanding the measures the health ministry will see how many prescriptions are given for the programme, whether people adhere to the prescriptions and if participating in certain exercise classes changes patients’ quality of life.
A study from Lunex University in Differdange in April said Luxembourg’s medical profession provides exercise as a therapeutic measure too rarely.
“There is a clear uncertainty in the medical profession when it comes to giving their patients targeted exercise recommendations,” said co-author Fraser Carson in an interview with the Luxemburger Wort at the time.
(This article was originally published in the Luxemburger Wort. Translated using AI, edited by Kate Oglesby.)