Unions call for strike and closure of medical analysis laboratories from September 20 to 23

Medical biologists’ unions are protesting against “a new drastic reduction of almost 10% in the prices of procedures”.

They are protesting against the reduction in their rates planned by Health Insurance. The unions of medical biologists are calling for a renewable strike and for the “Closure of laboratories” analyses from September 20 to 23 inclusive, they announced on Wednesday, August 28. Seven unions have decided to “toughen up the tone”, “in the absence of a response from the Cnam [Caisse nationale d’Assurance maladie] to the cries of alarm from medical biologists, following the announcement of a new drastic reduction of almost 10% in the prices of procedures”, they declare in a press release.

The conflict between the Cnam and the unions results from a demand for biological analyses that was significantly higher than expected in the first months of the year (+5.5% in volume). The Cnam intends to maintain the budget envelope planned for 2024 (3.784 billion euros excluding Covid-19 and certain specific expenses), in its last three-year agreement with the unions of biological doctors. This implies reducing certain rates.

Health insurance “just ask biologists to respect the terms” of this agreement, which sets annual budget envelopes. The amount of the proposed reductions “corresponds to 3.1% of the planned envelope”far from the figure of almost 10% mentioned by the unions, she reacts to the AFP. The unions are demanding a “renegotiation” of the last three-year agreement, because according to them the situation endangers the network of local laboratories, particularly in rural areas.

In their press release, these organizations assure that the Cnam “will no longer support biological examinations, starting in December 2024”as soon as the dedicated budget envelope is used up. “The consequence for the population, in the absence of a reaction from the authorities, is to suffer a ‘shut down’ imposed de facto by the Cnam, with total closure of laboratories, probably around mid-December”they write. “There is obviously no question of closing biology laboratories in December and stopping reimbursements for exams on December 15replies the Cnam.