In a bid to attract young physicians, Barjac’s mayor is offering a 400 m² house with a pool and garden for €500,000, plus renovation costs. With only one doctor left in the commune of 1,600 residents, concerns about healthcare access are increasing. Similar initiatives exist in other regions, such as hiring retired doctors and promoting support for medical centers, as communities grapple with deteriorating healthcare services and seek innovative solutions to fill the void.
Attention all medical professionals! If you’re looking to establish your practice, a spacious 400 m² villa complete with a swimming pool and extensive garden is available in Barjac, Gard. This unique opportunity is presented by Edouard Chollet, the mayor of this town with a population of 1,600, aimed at enticing young doctors to the area. The property comes with a purchase price of 500,000 euros, plus an additional 500,000 euros designated for renovations, featuring a medical practice on the first floor and living accommodations above. ‘Currently, we are in a dire situation without a doctor. It causes significant distress, and it’s truly tragic for our community’, expressed the mayor.
Once home to five physicians, Barjac now has only one practitioner left, which has led residents to rally behind the mayor’s initiative. ‘The location is ideal; it would be great to have a doctor or even a physiotherapist here’, one local commented. Another resident noted, ‘I would love to move to Barjac, but the absence of a doctor is a significant drawback.’ Meanwhile, Arnaud Buffard, who received funding to start his own practice elsewhere, shared his experience: ‘I was given 50,000 euros to set up my business. This helps cover essentials like an examination table, a computer, and office supplies. I am required to remain in a medically underserved area for five years.’
He replaced an old one who’d been there for decades. And then, apparently, it’s going very well
He replaced an old one who’d been there for decades. And then, apparently, it’s going very well
A patient
In Revigny-sur-Ornain, a town of 3,000 people in the south of Meuse, the situation is similar, characterized as a medical desert. However, for one 39-year-old doctor, financial incentives and tax breaks are not the only considerations. The collaborative environment of a larger health center with seven doctors has been a major motivating factor. ‘We’re quite fortunate to collaborate in a large health center, which helps distribute the workload and lessen the burden of long hours or weekend on-calls. This approach allows us to collectively care for around 800 patients,’ he explained. A patient in the waiting area added, ‘He took over from a long-term physician, and everything seems to be going well.’
‘It would be heartbreaking to give up’
Over in Hayange, Moselle, a government program that has proven effective in the past five years is the re-engagement of retired physicians. ‘We all fill in for each other. This was previously the emergency department at Hayange hospital’, noted a temporary replacement doctor in a video. Eight retired doctors provide consultations for one week each month. ‘Honestly, we aren’t in this for the financial gain. Leaving this profession would be devastating for us because we truly value our role in caring for individuals.’ Dr. Crocitti expressed.
To enhance healthcare delivery, there’s a growing need to expand the expertise of independent nurses, according to Dr. Gilles Arous: ‘We must facilitate greater responsibilities for trained nurses, allowing them to perform home visits and support doctors in their duties.’ The urgency of this initiative is underscored by the fact that recently, Hayange’s retired doctors have been unable to accept new patients, echoing the widespread challenges facing the medical community.