42% of hospital students have already thought about stopping their studies for financial reasons, according to a study

37% of medical students, and 42% of hospital students have already thought about stopping their studies for financial reasons, according to a study by the National Association of Medical Students in France, revealed on Wednesday October 4 by France Inter. Faced with general inflation, Anemf wants to warn of the financial precariousness of these medical students. The association estimates that the cost of the 2023 school year “amounts to more than 4,400 euros for students entering the second cycle of medical studies, an increase of 8.15% compared to the start of the 2022 school year”.

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According to Anemf, one in two medical students has already been overbanked during the year (48%) and this rises to 54% of hospital students. “52% of hospital students consider themselves facing financial difficulties” and only “45% consider they have enough money to cover their monthly needs”.

These financial difficulties force 55% of students not to have enough to eat, an indicator up 12 points compared to 2019, the date of the previous survey. 41% even skip at least one meal per month for financial reasons. Added to this is accommodation: “29% have difficulty paying their rent”this even concerns “32% of hospital students”.

Julie Le Saux, vice-president of Anemf, describes the situation of some of her friends who “must accumulate student jobs to be able to make ends meet”. She also warns of the large number, according to her, of apprentice doctors who “skip meals or give up hygiene or health products” due to lack of financial means. To save money, 80% of students say they have already turned off their heating, “figure up 30% compared to the 2019 survey”.

The vice-president of Anemf also accuses certain companies which provide support courses to students of inflating their prices. “These private preparation organizations often charge exorbitant prices and take advantage of the context of inflation to increase their prices even further”, denounces Julie Le Saux. The association draws up a non-exhaustive list of fees that medical students must pay beyond the usual expenses of student life: “purchase of knowledge repositories, very frequent registrations with private preparation organizations in order to try to compensate for the gaps in the training of the different faculties, costs generated by internships in the territories, expenses linked to work-study training at the hospital of the hospital student”.

Salary increases demanded by Anemf

This situation causes some anxiety among students. “58% of hospital students” say they feel anxious about their financial situation. In total, 64.7% of medical students do not recommend their own studies, because of their financial situation, but also because of their study conditions and the progress of their internships.

The National Association of Medical Students of France calls for urgent measures. “It is high time to take care of our future caregivers and act before students abandon medicine en masse”, she launches into her investigation. In particular, she calls for a salary increase for riflemen and guards, particularly night guards. Currently, between the fourth and sixth year of medicine, the income of apprentice doctors ranges between 270 and 400 euros gross per month, “a paltry remuneration” criticized by Anemf. The association also advocates for better mileage allowance during internships and the payment of scholarships during the summer.

Methodology
The Anemf precariousness survey was carried out through an online questionnaire, distributed “among students through social networks and through the traditional communication channels of associations and local elected officials” from January 17 to June 27, 2023. 5,840 responded to this survey.