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In Emmanuel Macron’s line of sight, unscrupulous patients who do not show up for their medical appointments. Nearly 28 million consultations would thus be lost each year. Should we crack down and put in place financial sanctions?
These appointments that patients do not honor have become the nightmares of medical practices. “Over a year, that still represents a lot of consultations”, says a doctor. Forgetfulness, negligence, setbacks, a headache or even a scourge for practitioners who suffer them on a daily basis, as in Pantin (Seine-Saint-Denis), where three patients canceled the day before, without warning. Every week, 6 to 10% of patients do not show up for their consultation, i.e. nearly 28 million medical appointments not honored.
Blacklist
So should we punish the dishonest and ask them to advance the consultation in part, in order to ensure their presence? “We are not asking for a very large sum, but a few euros can be enough“, believes Maxime Taybaly, general practitioner in Pantin. Hitting the wallet? The question divides the patients. “Anything that is free is never respected. But when you manage to pay a small deposit, you will take the trouble to introduce yourself”, says a patient. The rabbit setters are young urbanites who often come for a first date. In response, some doctors put them on a blacklist, others advocate a substantial financial deterrent.
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