Schiltz is both president of the hospital group’s board of directors as well as of the hospital’s foundation. The foundation is the group’s only shareholder. RTL, Tageblatt and Radio 100,7 on Monday said the hospital wanted to remove double mandates but that Schiltz would remain the foundation’s president.

A former CSV government minister, Schiltz took on the hospital group board presidency after the sudden departure of François Pauly in 2019, who joined the board of Saint-Paul Luxembourg, which publishes the Luxemburger Wort newspaper.

RTL and Tageblatt report that the appointment was always supposed to be temporary and Schiltz will be giving up the position after a year in office.

A lawyer by training, Schiltz was among the board members who received their coronavirus vaccine in January as a member of hospital staff. Hospital management faced criticism of allowing queue jumping but defended itself by saying guidance by the health ministry had been unclear.

Health minister Paulette Lenert (LSAP) declared the case closed but parliamentarian Sven Clement is pushing for an investigation by the public prosecutor to ascertain whether several incidents of staff vaccinations at Luxembourg hospitals constitute an offence.

Hospital director Claude Schummer left the organisation in March, following rumours that the hospital had planned to organise its own vaccination campaign, which the group repeatedly denied.

The decision to avoid double mandates at board level could also affect the two vice-presidents, Paul Wurth and Claude Seywert, who serve alongside Schiltz within the group and the foundation.

The vaccination controversy isn’t the only problem plaguing the hospital. In March, a doctor using only his initials filed a bullying complaint with the Luxembourg Medical Association, but the hospital said the doctor’s lawyer had informed the group that he was not behind the letter.

The hospital spoke of “slanderous statements” and threatened legal action against the letter’s author.

Schiltz’s law firm, Schiltz&Schiltz, has represented the hospitals group for more than 30 years.

Following Schummer’s departure, the hospital group’s administrative and financial director, Sandra Thein, was appointed director ad interim while a recruitment process is ongoing.

The group includes the Robert Schuman Hospital in Kirchberg, the Bohler maternity clinic, the Zithaklinik in Luxembourg City and the Sainte Marie clinic in Esch-sur-Alzette. Around 2,250 people work for the group, including more than 300 doctors.